Chick-fil-A's stance on gay marriage threatens plans for new restaurant in Chicago

This July 19, 2012, photo shows a Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant in Atlanta. / AP

(CBS/AP) CHICAGO - A Chicago alderman, angered by the president of Chick-fil-A's comments that he is against gay marriage, said he will block the company from building a restaurant in his ward.

Alderman Joe Moreno said Wednesday that unless the company comes up with a written anti-discrimination policy, Chick-fil-A will not open its first free-standing restaurant in the city as it plans to do.

"They have nothing on the books that says they do not discriminate and they are open to everyone," said Moreno, whose ward is on the northwest side. "I want to see that policy before they go forward."

Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy (cutting cake), and his son, President and COO Dan Cathy (at right), mark the chain's 40th anniversary at the original restaurant in Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall in this 2007 file photo.

/ Chick-fil-A

Moreno's comments follow an interview that Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy gave to the Baptist Press in which he said he was "guilty as charged" in support of what he called the biblical definition of a family.

Huckabee calls for "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day"
NYC says gay marriage has $259M impact in 1st year
Pentagon marks gay pride month for 1st time

The fast-food chain later said that it strives to "treat every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender," the Boston Herald reported. The Atlanta-based company did not respond to a telephone call or email from The Associated Press.

Last week, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino told the Boston Herald he would block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in the city.

In a letter sent from Menino to the restaurant chain on July 20, and then posted on a Boston city Facebook page, the mayor says, "incredibly - your company says you are backing out of the same-sex marriage debate. I urge you to back out of your plans to locate in Boston... I was angry to learn on the heels of your prejudiced statements about your search for a site to locate in Boston. There is no place for discrimination on Boston's Freedom Trail and no place for your company alongside it."

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel expressed similar sentiments to the Chicago Tribune, which first reported Moreno's efforts this week. He said the comments "disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents," and therefore building the restaurant in Chicago "would be a bad investment, since it would be empty."

On Wednesday, Moreno did not dispute that Cathy had the right to say what he said. But, Moreno said, "There are consequences for freedom of speech (and) in this case the consequences are... you're not going to have your first free-standing restaurant in Chicago."

Chick-fil-A has obtained a zoning permit for the restaurant but needs approval from the City Council to divide the land, Moreno said. And in a city where the City Council rarely go against the wishes of the alderman, Chick-fil-A needs Moreno's help.

Moreno said holding up construction would be as simple as refusing to introduce an ordinance to subdivide the land where Chick-fil-A wants to build.

He said he was not worried about being sued. First, he said, there are well-documented traffic and congestion issues in the Logan Square neighborhood that he could raise to justify his decision.

He added, "We have a responsibility to look at (whether companies) are responsible actors and responsible means not being discriminatory."

10 Photos

OK to be gay? Regional acceptance of same-sex relations

[annonymouss]

I Nadia from Chicago, i want to be really honest about myself and annouce to the world about how i was able to get my ex lover back. When my lover left me for another girl i was so down casted to the extend i was thinking of all most killing myself, And as a matter of facts i needed urgent help, So i was seeking for advise from different source both from the internet and from friends around me. And one lucky day for me i came accross this great man contact information that saved my life by bringing my lover back to me within the period of 48hours. While i know everybody will be wonderring who is this great man?, He is nobody else than Dr.Zabaza and you can easily reach Dr.Zabaza on this contact information below [phone] or send him a mail on [e-mail] and i assure you that within the next few hours you will be in greater joy.


Nadia

Chicago

[annonymouss]

I Nadia from Chicago, i want to be really honest about myself and annouce to the world about how i was able to get my ex lover back. When my lover left me for another girl i was so down casted to the extend i was thinking of all most killing myself, And as a matter of facts i needed urgent help, So i was seeking for advise from different source both from the internet and from friends around me. And one lucky day for me i came accross this great man contact information that saved my life by bringing my lover back to me within the period of 48hours. While i know everybody will be wonderring who is this great man?, He is nobody else than Dr.Zabaza and you can easily reach Dr.Zabaza on this contact information below [phone] or send him a mail on [e-mail] and i assure you that within the next few hours you will be in greater joy.


Nadia

Chicago

[annonymouss]

I Nadia from Chicago, i want to be really honest about myself and annouce to the world about how i was able to get my ex lover back. When my lover left me for another girl i was so down casted to the extend i was thinking of all most killing myself, And as a matter of facts i needed urgent help, So i was seeking for advise from different source both from the internet and from friends around me. And one lucky day for me i came accross this great man contact information that saved my life by bringing my lover back to me within the period of 48hours. While i know everybody will be wonderring who is this great man?, He is nobody else than Dr.Zabaza and you can easily reach Dr.Zabaza on this contact information below [phone] or send him a mail on [e-mail] and i assure you that within the next few hours you will be in greater joy.


Nadia

Chicago

[annonymouss]

I am Kate from New York and it my pleasure to tell the world about the wonders that Dr.Zabaza did for me. I wasing having some difficulties in my relationship and the problems lead to our break up and with the aid of Dr.Zabaza my lover came back to me within the period of 48hours. While at this moment i am short of words all that i can say now is praises onto the great one called Dr.Zabaza whose contact details are [phone] or email him at [e-mail] and i assure you that within the period of 48hours you will have course to celebrate just like me.


KATE

NEW YORK

USA

[annonymouss]

I am Kate from New York and it my pleasure to tell the world about the wonders that Dr.Zabaza did for me. I wasing having some difficulties in my relationship and the problems lead to our break up and with the aid of Dr.Zabaza my lover came back to me within the period of 48hours. While at this moment i am short of words all that i can say now is praises onto the great one called Dr.Zabaza whose contact details are [phone] or email him at [e-mail] and i assure you that within the period of 48hours you will have course to celebrate just like me.


KATE

NEW YORK

USA

[annonymouss]

I am Kate from New York and it my pleasure to tell the world about the wonders that Dr.Zabaza did for me. I wasing having some difficulties in my relationship and the problems lead to our break up and with the aid of Dr.Zabaza my lover came back to me within the period of 48hours. While at this moment i am short of words all that i can say now is praises onto the great one called Dr.Zabaza whose contact details are [phone] or email him at [e-mail] and i assure you that within the period of 48hours you will have course to celebrate just like me.


KATE

NEW YORK

USA

[bbbcatout]

What a beautiful and wonderful testimony some time things you don't believe can just happen.
My name is Mrs Leisha from U.S.A am 25 years old i got married at the age of 23 i have only one child and i was living happily .After one year of my marriage my husband behavior became so strange and i don't really understand what was going on, he packed out of the house to another woman i love him so much that i never dream's of loosening him, i try my possible best to make sure that my husband get back to me but all to no avail i cry and i cry seeking for help i discussed it with my best friend and she promise to help me he told me of a man called I CAN DO he is a very great man and a real man that can be trusted and there is nothing concerning love issues he cannot do that is why they call him I CAN DO. I contacted his email address at ([e-mail]) And i told him everything that happen all he told me is that i should not worry that all my problems will be solved immediately. He told me what to do to get my husband back and i did, he said after 3days my husband will come back to me and start begging, it really happen i was very surprise and very, very happy our relationship was now very tight and we both live happily again.
So my advice for you now is to contact this same email address ([e-mail]) if you are in any kind of situation concerning love issues and any other things that give you problems.
THANKS..

[MaureenHoward]

I was having a boyfriend. We were known for long time and we promised we will be together for ever. Both of us are married and not satisfied with the present spouse. But because of some misunderstanding I quarreled with him and humiliated him in front of his friends. After that I realized my mistake and apologized with him. He told me he will try to forget everything. After that we met again he promised me everything happened because of misunderstanding and now we will be together for ever.But after some while, we never met each other. no proper communication from him for 1 month. But for me he is my everything. He is the only one who gave such a good satisfaction in my life. I wanted him. I wanted us to meet, to have sex, to love each other again. He is very good.and l know He was made for me. But some hindrance keep keeping us apart. i tried to get close to him but nothing was working out until one day i heard about a spell caster called dr.marnish@ymail. com, i decide to try his love spell and definitely it worked out perfectly for me, it never took time for the spell to start working, after some few days my lover came to me and wanted us to start our relationship again, our lover is so tight now that nothing can brings us apart, this love spell is wonderful

[Thanksgreat]

Hello am Peter Marcus from the usa Am here to appreciate a man who has brought back the most precious thing back into my life after lisa left me for good 3years i was in deep pain and so confused because i truly loved her so much because she meant a lot in my life,So i was at a shop buying somethings when i was listening to the radio hearing a lady talking about dr ikuku how he has helped her in bringing back her ex,i was like truly this dr ikuku has really been the talk of usa now So which then i got home and had a second tough about contacting this spell caster So then i got his contact when i went to meet them at the radio station,They gave me dr ikuku cell number and email id,Then i decided to call him and i explained to dr ikuku how my wife left me for good 3years,He told me not to worry that he would surly bring back Lisa into my life within 24hours i was so happy when i had that i was thinking if truly what dr ikuku is saying is true So then i said if he was a scam people would not talk good about him in an international radio station here in the USA,What baffled me the most was that before the 24hours completed i already go an email from Lisa begging me,i was like are you sure this email his real,i was doubting then the next thing was a call from lisa telling me she is in front of my door i rushed to the door i opened it and saw Lisa standing and crying for me to forgive her which i did,i forgive her and she was so happy and promise to be with me forever,This happened due to the help of this great man dr ikuku,Please friend dr ikuku has brought back happiness into our life in the USA how wish we could give him an award for the great thing he has done for us in the USA.Dr ikuku is a man to contact for help please dont fall victim into the hand of scam dr ikuku is here to help am a living testimony to his great work contact him on his private mail ikukutempleofsolution@gmail com or cell Number [phone]

[Olumba1]

Have just confirmed this also, i read the previous posts of Carolyn, Pamela, Robert, Christiana and many more people Dr Olumba helped getting back their Lover, i wrote him and told him wanted a love spell for my Ex to come get back to me and he said i should smile 3 times as he does say to people, i did and hoped for a good one, he mailed me back and said his gonna get some items and i agreed and he went to the mountain as he said, after 19hrs i got a phone call from Johnson and i was surprised when he said he was so sorry and said he already made up his mind coming back to spend the rest of his life with me finally, i screamed and at noon he packed back into my house. i called Dr Olumba and told him, He smiled and said he already knew about it, All he wanted was just to share the good news and to let people know his different from all sort of spell caster, his capable of casting any spell, for his contacts : [e-mail] , [phone]
Dalia (PENNSYLVANIA USA)