Chicago Alderman Opposes New Chick-fil-A; Art Smith Planning Anti-Hate Fundraiser

If 1st Ward Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno has anything to do with it, Chicago will follow Boston in denying Chick-fil-A the necessary permits to open any new restaurants here.

Moreno, whose ward includes the part of Logan Square where Chick-fil-A has hoped to open its second city location (in the 2500 block of North Elston), told the Chicago Tribune that he would prevent the company from opening a new store following Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy's comments that he was "guilty as charged" for being anti-gay.

Calling Cathy's comments "bigoted" and homophobic," Moreno said, "If you are discriminating against a segment of the community, I don't want you in the 1st Ward." Mayor Rahm Emanuel echoed Moreno's comments by adding that, "Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values."

Moreno, who said Chick-fil-A would "have to work with LGBT groups in terms of hiring, and there would have to be a public apology from (Cathy)" before changing his stance, invoked his aldermanic privilege to deny giving out the permits on the local level.

Meanwhile, openly gay celeb chef Art Smith, who begins a run on Top Chef Masters tonight, is holding an anti-hate fundraiser at his home with husband Jesus Salgueiro on July 29. The afternoon chicken fry, dubbed Flick-the-Hate: A Chicken Fry for Equality, will cost $100 a head and support Equality Illinois, which works to protect and defend LGBT rights in Illinois.
· Alderman to Chick-fil-A: No Deal [Tribune]
· Boston Mayor Bans Chick-fil-A Over Anti-gay Comments [~E~]
· Art Smith's Flick-the-Hate [Twitter]
· All Chick-fil-A Coverage on Eater National [~E~]

Chick-fil-A Water Tower [Photo: Facebook]