At the Aug. 8 Chick-fil-A grand opening in Chelsea, there were no protests,
just a line that wrapped around the block.
Antigay Chick-fi l-A
is open in Chelsea
BY GABE HERMAN
Chick-fi l-A just opened a location
in Chelsea, making it the fastfood
company’s ninth in Manhattan.
But despite long lines for the grand
opening at Sixth Ave. and W. 22nd St.
on Thurs., Aug. 8, not everyone in the
area is welcoming the business, which
has drawn criticism for its stance on
same-sex marriage.
Chick-fi l-A sparked a fi restorm of
protest in 2012 when current C.E.O.
Dan Cathy expressed antigay marriage
views and the company was found to
be contributing to groups that opposed
same-sex marriage.
There was backlash against the
chain, including boycotts. Then there
was backlash to the backlash by those
supporting the company’s views. Cathy
and the company then tried to pull back
from public involvement in the gay marriage
debate.
Although the issue is not as hotly debated
nationwide now as seven years
ago, the company’s marriage views have
stayed in the news. Tax fi lings from
2017 showed Chick-fi l-A has continued
to contribute to antigay groups, Think-
Progress recently reported.
But the Atlanta-based chicken-sandwich
chain has continued to grow in
recent years, including in progressive
Manhattan. The company has been in
the New York University food court at
5 University Place since 2004, and its
fi rst public location opened in Midtown
in 2015. Other Chick-fi l-A eateries have
since opened in Midtown and Tribeca
and on the Upper East Side.
But Chelsea, in particular, is not a
neighborhood where the chicken chain
belongs, according to one local. Chelsea
resident Scott D., who asked not to print
his last name, told this paper that he is
“upset” about them moving in.
“They’re not the type of fast-food restaurant
that belongs in Chelsea — a part
of the city that is about inclusion and embracing
diversity,” Scott said. “For years
they’ve gotten away with homophobia, and
have worked hard — and heavily funded
PHOTO BY GABE HERMAN
efforts — to deny gay marriage, etc.
“I don’t have to support them and will
not,” he continued. “But I know that
the average person who knows nothing
about their exclusionary history will go
in and spend money — that’s the saddest
part. They’ve excelled at taking any
negative publicity and burying it while
growing into the third-largest fast-food
corporation in America.
“I believe there should be a lot of protests,”
he said. “They come to suck profits
out of New York City while preaching
hate, and they don’t represent the
diversity of New York.”
Council Speaker Corey Johnson,
whose area includes Chelsea and who
is openly gay, told this paper, “I hope
as Chick-fi l-A moves into an extremely
L.G.B.T.Q. friendly neighborhood they
use this opportunity to reconsider their
outdated and homophobic stance.”
There were no protests at the Chelsea
location’s opening on Aug. 8.
There were only crowds coming for the
food, and a lunchtime line that stretched
outside and around the corner.
State Senator Brad Hoylman, whose
district includes Chelsea, Midtown and
the West Village, told this paper, “I
wouldn’t suggest, like Chicken Little,
that the sky is falling. There’s been a
Chick-fi l-A at N.Y.U. for years now, in
addition to stores in my district in Midtown.”
Hoylman, who is also openly gay, added,
“Sadly there are plenty of C.E.O.’s
who support homophobia and rightwing
causes.”
He cited the planned Hamptons fundraiser
for Donald Trump last Friday, at
$100,000 a person, by Stephen Ross,
C.E.O. of Related, which owns Hudson
Yards and other businesses, including
SoulCycle and Equinox gyms.
“People can make their own decisions
about supporting a business that
has given millions to antigay causes,”
Hoylman said. “But we should also be
asking how they treat their workers, do
they engage in sustainable practices, and
are they good corporate citizens in New
York City.”
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DUTIES
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