In a letter Friday to Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew Driscoll, Assemblyman Harry Bronson - a Rochester Democrat who is openly gay - pleaded with them to change course.īronson noted New York has been considered a leader in LGBTQ rights, becoming the first large state to vote to legalize same-sex marriage in 2011. That's done little to quell critics who say a company with a history of donations to organizations with anti-LGBTQ positions shouldn't be allowed to operate within public property. In 2019, Chick-fil-A announced it would refocus its charitable donations to focus on groups dedicated to education, homelessness and hunger, cutting out contributions to groups like the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which it had previously donated to.Īnd in a statement last week, the company contended it "does not have a political or social agenda, and we welcome everyone in our restaurants." "I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about," Cathy said then on "The Ken Coleman Show," according to the Christian Post. In 2012, Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy said the country was "inviting God's judgment" by embracing same-sex marriage. Great values.” Chick-fil-A's history of controversial donationsĬhick-fil-A has long drawn the ire of LGBTQ advocates who take issue with the company's history of giving to groups and organizations that have championed anti-LGBTQ stances.
“I hope we don’t have to, but I will go to war for the principles Chick fil-A stands for,” Graham tweeted Wednesday. “Great food. The controversy is similar to similar disagreements over Chick-fil-A at airports in Buffalo and San Antonio, where the chains' efforts to set up shop were rejected amid protests from advocates and officials.Īnd it comes as a similar controversy is playing out at Notre Dame University, which prompted Graham to say he would "go to war" for the chicken chain. The project is funded by Applegreen, an Irish convenience store chain taking over the rest stops' lease. The back-and-forth over Chick-fil-A's presence on the Thruway comes as a $300 million project to rebuild and renovate the rest stops are about to begin. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, tweeting Tuesday that it would "set a horrible precedent" if state officials were to block Chick-fil-A from the rest stops for "exercising their First Amendment rights." Then came the pushback to the pushback, with Republicans lawmakers issuing a letter of their own, pledging support for Chick-fil-A and welcoming them to the Thruway.Įven an out-of-state federal lawmaker got involved, with Sen. What came next could have easily been predicted.ĭemocratic state lawmakers pushed back, angered that a chicken chain with a history of giving to anti-LGBT causes would be permitted to set up shop in rest stops owned by a state authority. Watch the following video at your own risk…it may make you cry it may challenge you to live, love, and lead it certainly will not leave you the same as you were before you viewed it.ĭan Cathy says, “There are a million opportunities for each of us every day to live, love, and lead.Watch Video: The Thruway's plan to overhaul its service plazaĪLBANY – First came the July 7 announcement: Some rest stops on the New York State Thruway will soon be home to Chick-fil-A, the popular fast-food restaurant.
This is a video we created to remind us that everyone we interact with is a chance to create a remarkable experience.”
“ Every life has a story if we only bother to read it. Included in Steve’s presentation at the annual conference of the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors ( NANC) was the following training video created by Chick-fil-A.ĭan Cathy introduces the video. Steve shared a powerful message about how, by God’s grace, Faith Baptist Church is reaching out into the Lafayette community with Christ’s love. Last night, my good friend, Pastor Steve Viars, introduced me to yet another aspect of Dan Cathy’s life. That may explain the Chick-fil-A passion statement: Live, Love, and Lead. A committed Christian, he’s an inspiring man with an amazing story.
Dan Cathy is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Chick-fil-A, Inc.