In response to the council’s disappointing decision, a Chick-fil-A spokesperson cited a portion of the organization’s code of conduct, which advocates tolerance: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
The company value, of course, stems from the Bible verse found in Luke 6:31.
“The 140,000 people who serve customers in our restaurants on a daily basis represent and embrace all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity,” the spokesperson continued. “Our intent is to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”
The Chick-fil-A representative added that the restaurant would like to engage in “thoughtful dialogue” with the San Antonio City Council about the issue, in hopes of coming to an understanding.
“It’s unfortunate that mischaracterizations of our brand have led to decisions like this,” said the rep. “The sole focus of the Chick-fil-A Foundation is to support causes focused on youth and education. We are proud of the positive impact we are making in communities across America and have been transparent about our giving on our web site.”
The San Antonio City Council’s decision comes just weeks after Rider University in New Jersey banned Chick-fil-A from its campus based on similar grounds.
The restaurant sincerely hopes to clear up the misconception that they are hostile toward the LGBTQ community by making the true heart of their organization known through both word and action.
