Oh, the Chick-fil-A anti-gay hysteria refuses to die down. After Wednesday's successful pro-Chick buy-in, today LGBT-friendly protesters are planning kiss-ins outside the chain's restaurants across the country. And if that weren't enough to keep the story going in a slow August news cycle, Mayor Bloomberg today came out swinging in support of the fast foodery—and the Catholic Church. Not supporting their politics, mind you, just their right to have their own politics.
Hizzoner had already spoken up about the story saying a ban on the restaurant, which has one location in the city inside NYU, was "not going to happen" and today he elaborated on that stance on his weekly WOR radio appearance:
"It isn't the right thing to do and it isn't what America stands for," Bloomberg said on his weekly WOR radio show. "And those people who don't like [Chick-fil-A] don't understand their rights were protected by people who took a difficult position in the past and stood by it. They stood up so everybody else would be free."
[...]
"I don't agree with this guy. I don't agree with the position of the Catholic Church. That doesn't mean I don't have an enormous amount of respect for the two Cardinals we have here and the clergy and the people who are Catholic," said Bloomberg.
"What's for sure is that government cannot in the United States, in America, under the Constitution, be run where you have a litmus test for the personal views of somebody when they want something in the commercial world.
[...]
"As long as they don't break any laws and government—the City Council included—should not be out there criticizing because all that says to other companies that want to lcoate here is 'what do I need that aggravation for?'"
And, as we've said before, as much as we may not like the politics of the Cathay family (which owns Chick-fil-A) Bloomberg isn't wrong on this one. If you don't like Chick-fil-A or its owners, just don't eat there.
What is interesting, however, is that last little dig at the City Council in there. Because who Bloomberg is really talking about is the 2013 mayoral candidate, and Bloomberg presumed choice for the gig, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who has been outspoken regarding her distaste for having the chain in the city.
Oh, and one last Chick-fil-A bit of news? There is currently a pretty great petition making the rounds calling for the chain to only serve heterosexual chickens. Friends don't let friends eat homosexual chickens!
