Boston mayor Tom Menino says he won't tell the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of America that they should leave the city even though they've expressed anti-gay views.
In response to his stance on Chick-fil-A's plans to build a restaurant in the city, FOX 25 News' Sharman Sacchetti asked Menino if he felt the same way about the Catholic Church and Boy Scouts.
"They aren't funding organizations that are anti-gay," said Menino. "It's a different story."
Menino added, "Sometimes when you're an elected official you make decisions that aren't popular, and that's what I'm doing today."
In a letter sent to Chick-fil-A's president, Menino "urges" the restaurant to back out of plans to open a location in Boston due to the company's recent comments made about same-sex marriage.
FOX 25 received a copy of the letter sent by Boston's Mayor Tom Menino to the southern fast food restaurant on Wednesday.
In July 20 letter to Dan Cathy, Mayor Menino criticizes the company for saying that the generation that supports same-sex marriage has an "arrogant attitude."
The mayor also says that he was angry to learn about the fast food chain's search for a site to locate in Boston. He says that it would be an insult to same sex couples and to "our city's long history of expanding freedom" to have Chick-fil-A open across the street from the Freedom Trail.
In response, Chick-fil-A issued a statement that said: "The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender."
It also said: "Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena."
An official for the Human Rights Campaign released a comment applauding Mayor Menino in light of the newly viral letter.
The HRC's Vice President of Communications and Marketing Fred Sainz says in-part:
"Mayor Menino's rebuke of Chick-fil-A sends a strong messages that their habit of supporting hateful organizations that demonize LGBT Americans are out-of-step with not just Bostonians, but the majority of fair-minded Americans. Chick-fil-A is on the wrong side of history, and we look forward to seeing more and more elected officials and businesses speak out against their discriminatory practices."
On Thursday, in a Facebook post, Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas said he stands with Chick-fil-A.
The Mayor's full letter:
To Mr. Cathy:
In recent days you said Chick-fil-A opposes same-sex marriage and said the generation that supports it has an "arrogant attitude."
Now - 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.
You called supporters of gay marriage "prideful." Here in Boston, to borrow your own words, we are "guilty as charged." We are indeed full of pride for our support of same sex marriage and our work to expand freedom to all people. We are proud that our state and our city have led the way for the country on equal marriage rights.
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. When Massachusetts became the first state in the country to recognize equal marriage rights, I personally stood on City Hall Plaza to greet same sex couples coming here to be married. It would be an insult to them and to our city's long history of expanding freedom to have Chick-fil-A across the street from that spot.
Sincerely,
Thomas M. Menino
Mayor, City of Boston
Statement from Chick-fil-A:
Chick-fil-A is a family-owned and family-led company serving the communities in which it operates. From the day Truett Cathy started the company, he began applying biblically-based principles to managing his business. For example, we believe that closing on Sundays, operating debt-free and devoting a percentage of our profits back to our communities are what make us a stronger company and Chick-fil-A family.
The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -- regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. We will continue this tradition in the over 1,600 Restaurants run by independent Owner/Operators. Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.
Our mission is simple: to serve great food, provide genuine hospitality and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.
