Philadelphia Councilman Blasts Chick-Fil-A Prez For Comments Against Gay Marriage

By Mike DeNardo and Jenn Bernstein

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Philadelphia City Councilman is joining those blasting the head of the fast food chain Chick-fil-A for his comments against gay marriage.

City Councilman Jim Kenney has fired-off a letter to Dan Cathy, the Baptist president of the fast food chain who last week denounced gay marriage on a radio show, saying he supports the Biblical definition of a family unit.

Kenney's letter tells Cathy to "take a hike and take your intolerance with you," and Kenney goes on to say he'll introduce a resolution at the next City Council meeting condemning Cathy and Chick-fil-A for expressing intolerance and hate.

At a Chick-fil-A on Columbus Boulevard, one customer getting breakfast says Cathy is entitled to his personal opinion, as long as he's not preaching to his customers.

"If he was trying to be persuasive to the patrons who came in and paid, then I would definitely stop coming. But until he does that, then it's a good breakfast!"

Kenney's letter is just one voice in a national backlash against the fast-food chain.

Gay-rights groups have planned a "kiss-in" at Chick-fil-A restaurants next week. The Jim Henson company pulled its Muppets toys from kids meals, and an alderman in Chicago says he'll block the company from opening a new store there.

Nicole Wiegand and Nicole Krecicki of Center City were at the Wendy's next door. They've been in a committed relationship with one another for almost three years, and say they've always avoided eating at Chick-fil-A.

"The 'charities' that they donate to, spend a lot of time and a lot of money making sure we're kept as second class citizens, it's a civil rights issue," said Krecicki. "They will never get a dime out of me," Wiegand said, "They will never get my money."

Conservatives are fighting back, though, with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee urging people to stand up for "godly values" by eating at Chick-fil-A.

Former Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum- a conservative republican- is sticking up for Cathy saying he was merely expressing his religious beliefs.

"What they're doing is trying to punish this man and his company, his franchises, his employees, and there's no record of discrimination," said Santorum. "This is the kind of scary stuff you see in countries that don't have freedom."