I am disappointed in the NJ Gay community. This is not a gay issue. This is a difference in opinion against an individuals "RELIGIOUS" beliefs. In NJ it was encouraged to go to all the restaurants and protest against "RELIGION". What is next the Gay commnuity is going to show up at a Christians Sunday MAss and tell them they are wrong????? This was not a good forum. As a business owner I was offended, as a gay male I was mortified and scared about the backlash. As we have seen in NJ those stores have been vandalized by Garden State Equality stickers. REALLY!!!! for a $7.00 sandwich just dont eat there!!!!

BL Producer,

The more I think about that letter, the more unsettled I become. This really deserves a segment of its own.

I support gay marriage (although I wouldn't necessarily recommend the unnecessary constraints of legal marriage to any couple) but this letter from Quinn is a flagrant abuse of power. This sort of behavior undermines the rule of law, our democracy, and our diversity (how ironic).

Perhaps Christine Quinn, City Council President, got a tad carried away,
in demanding that this business be banned from New York City.
But I really sympathize with Ms. Quinn's sentiments.

Why does NYC need a chicken sandwich business,
whose owner wants to put down a a part of NYC?

Gay people have fought far too hard
and too long against people with
such intolerant views.

Gay people are a vital part of the fabric of America and NYC.

Buy bread and chicken in the supermarket and make your own sandwich.

A marriage celebration with Chick-fil-A?! That's salt in the wound with extra sodium for a gay person. Poor Mr. Thrasher has fans who are not only insensitive but have terrible food taste.

@geTaylor,

Is that the real letter? Wow. I like the phrase: "This establishment should be replaced with an establishment where the ownership does not denigrate a portion of our population." I guess that means that just about all NYC establishments must go -- including WNYC for denigrating Replublicans and Independents.

I never really had an opinion about Quinn before, but now I do. Scary.

" Two organizations that work very hard to maintain this status quo and roll back any protections that we may have are the Family Research Council and the Marriage & Family Foundation. For example, the Family Research council leadership has officially stated that same-gender-loving behavior should be criminalized in this country. They draw their pay, in part, from the donations of companies like Chick-Fil-A. Both groups have also done “missionary” work abroad that served to strengthen and promote the criminalization of same-sex relations. Chick-Fil-A has given roughly $5M to these organizations to support their work. Chick-Fil-A’s money comes from the profits they make when you purchase their products.

This isn’t about mutual tolerance because there’s nothing mutual about it. If we agree to disagree on this issue, you walk away a full member of this society and I don’t. There is no “live and let live” on this issue because Dan Cathy is spending millions to very specifically NOT let me live. I’m not trying to do that to him.
Wayne Self writes:
Asking for “mutual tolerance” on this is like running up to a bully beating a kid to death on the playground and scolding them both for not getting along. I’m not trying to dissolve Mr. Cathy’s marriage or make his sex illegal. I’m not trying to make him a second-class citizen, or get him killed. He’s doing that to me, folks; I’m just fighting back.

All your life, you’re told to stand up to bullies, but when WE do it, we’re told WE are the ones being intolerant? Well, okay. Yes. I refuse to tolerate getting my ass kicked. “Guilty as charged.”

http://www.owldolatrous.com/?p=288
via The Stranger's slog blog

P.S. to her letter ;

http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/101357477?access_key=key-1q2snng4219fpe5ixdrh

"Nice zoning proposal you have there

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-07-25/news/32833037_1_nyu-plan-nyu-graduates-nyu-s-greenwich-village

It would be a shame if anything bad were to happen to it.

Love,
Christine

I'm a Quinn supporter and an equal marriage supporter but I find some of this brouhaha to be just a tad disingenuous. There are products and companies in NYC owned and led by fundamentalists with a rigid agenda. I'm guessing there are city projects that have benefited from the largesse of people who hold biased beliefs as well. It is the consumer's responsibility to be conscious of whose views they are supporting with their cash.
www.HereSheIsBoys.com

This issue is much larger than two politicians speaking out of turn (or not, depending upon your point of view)

If you are a lesbian or gay person, basic common sense would dictate that you would not knowingly spend your money in an establishment that is openly supporting bigotry against you. This is a company whose leaders speaks out against your rights and which donates large sums of money to political candidates and organizations that are anti-gay.

Why is this controversial?

The entire discussion was dominated by a journalist from The Village Voice with one perspective when it should have been much more of a dialogue with people who don't feel the same way he. That is the point of having a call-in feature: to get a diversity of opinions.

No one denies Chick-fil-A's right to give their money to whomever they want or the right of the company's leaders to speak their mind. Only the government can actually deny someone's constitutional right to free speech.

Diagreeing is not the same as silencing.

The point of a boycott is for lgbt people and our allies to say that we disagree, won't spend our money there and we encourage others not to if they believe in equality for lesbians and gays.

The answer to speech that you don't like is MORE speech. A boycott is one way to make it clear how we feel. It is speaking with your wallet.

That doesn't rob anyone of their right to agree with Chick-fil-A or to eat their chicken.

We can't know to whom every company gives their money at all times. But once we DO know, and that company makes a point of speaking out to let folks know, we have a responsibility to do the right thing.

My frustration during this segment was with the limited scope of the conversation to just Christine Quinn and that one journalist.

The principle here is much more important than one person's opinion. I stated what I wanted to comment aout to the screener so it's not like they didn't know.

Being Gay is not a choice but it was given! Gays are born with liking other sex!
Attacking something we can not change, it hurts and it's an attack! If Chick-Fil-A said, we are opposing black and white marriage. What do you say about it?

Ms Quinn, the self-confessed leader of the city council of embezzlers
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/this_is_hers_for_the_faking_i4hBLqCHRGrdOKvxI8sWzH ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOqecrHyzko .
is not fit for public office even before she engages in the demagoguery evidenced in her threats to use her office to prevent "Chick-Fil-A" from doing business in NYC.
I'm sure after these two adventures in self-help for the council speaker, the directors of NYU, who have a large zoning matter scheduled for the city council's approval, will be are confident that the merits of that zoning are the only issues being considered.

Henry ford was a nazi sympathizer. Boycott ford? Also aren't chicks and fillies both female? What's up with that?

This isn't a free speech issue, he can say whatever he wants and spend his and his company's money the way he wants. Chik-fil-a does a lot of good for their communities (school fundraisers, scholarships for employees etc), and they do harm with their political choices. This has been known in many circles for many years. And within those circles it is a personal decision whether the good outweighs the harm and whether someone wants to support that business. Yes there are many companies who support causes that may not be popular, and if you know about that you can consider that in your spending decisions. That is one of the joys of capitalism, we each make that decision each day. So in the same way I may choose to shop at a local store instead of a national chain, I can choose not to eat at Chik-fil-a if I want. If you don't want a business around, don't go there and let your dollars do the talking.

Chik filet is getting a lot of free advertizing.......

Oh, Desiree... She sounds like she auditioning for a cable news show.

Just look at the comments here and on other sites. They run with a huge majority in favor of Chick Fil A and against the grandstanding, power-abusing politicians. They also run counter to Lehrer. The general public knows this is a non-story and that every business owner has beliefs and spends their profits where they see fit that may or may not rile their base of support. Get over it or boycott but just shut up if you want to boycott. Do what we all do - just don't spend your money where you don't want to spend it and keep it to yourself - no tweeting about it, no posting about it, just spend your money elsewhere and don't proclaim your superiority by doing just that.

Me, I can't wait for the end of summer so I can visit the NYU Chick Fil A when it reopens.

Lol. Libertarians think govt regulation is the wrong way to deal with companies, now they think consumer action is the wrong way to deal with them as well? Unless they're refusing to sell to them of course.

Apparently to a libertarian, totalitarianism is refusing to buy from anyone unless they refuse to sell to you first.

This argument seems misguided. Dan Cathay is a private citizen who owns a private company. He can have any bigoted beliefs he chooses to have, as long as they do not promote violence or discrimination. I am so happy that we are better informed about Chick-Fil-A, and we citizens can make informed decisions about how to spend our money, but Chick-Fil-A is not the real issue. It's frustrating to hear politicians jump on Cathay about this issue. If every politician who wants us to think they are concerned about the LGBT community would work to pass laws that ensure fair and equal treatment in our country we'd all be in a much better place.

Hate crimes against LGBT people are not prosecuted as rigorously as other crimes, we do not have marriage equality for all in our country, LGBT is not a protected status under the law for workplace or housing discrimination. These (and many more) are the real issues!

In a democracy we have to get together with people who disagree with us. Otherwise democracy doesn't work. Sometimes we will come as a society to believe that a certain behavior is actually against the fundamental values of our society. We have decided that for racism, and rightly so. We have not yet come to that place with homosexuality, but I think we will. Meanwhile, we have open discussion and I think we need to respect people's opinions. I do not have to eat at Chic-file ... but I would rather have a conversation respectfully rather than start making people untouchables because of their opinion.

Isn't this a lot like the Dominoe's Pizza issue...
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/dominos.asp

To the libertarian caller. boycotting a cooperation because they fund campaigns you disagree with is a great example of the free market regulating itself.

No government interference involved (excluding the associated controversy with elected politicians).

You're right Evan, they would be happy chickens. !-;

The owners of Chick-fil-A have the right to stand against gay marriage has anyone has the right to not eat their god awful food if they feel that company espouses biased views.

I didn't need a controversy to boycott Chick-fil-A; I tasted their food and that was enough.

Wow, that Desiree woman who just called into the show would simply NOT. SHUT. UP! How rude to call in to Brian's show and keep interrupting him! Fortunately, most of the callers to the show are much more polite than that, even though they are passionate about an issue.

is the city going to withdraw non-profit status from the church?

Some of these postings seem to be confused.

Quinn wrote to NYU on her letterhead, saying she was writing as City Council head, that she wants them to evict Chick Filet.

As wonderful as we all think the Dali Lama is, he says that his form of Buddhism is agaist gay marriage.

AM I TO ASSUME THAT MY BUDDHIST STUDY CENTER WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE NYC??????

Brian just simply calls Cathay a "bigot" because he supports traditional marriage. Whoa, Lehrer is a radical who has bought into the liberal thinkspeak.

Isn't the real issue here Campaign Finance Reform? Who cares what they do, they should not be able to impact politics with money.

Robert,

I imagine the chickens would be happy if people stopped eating there. :)

Why do people think Apple or Steve Jobs are/were liberal? Apple is a ruthless, for profit company (nothing wrong with that) Bill Gates is the one giving his money away, Jobs was a "greedy" son of a ----

There is a one in NYC?! Where I wsnt to try the chicken now that I condemned it I have to know what I'm condemning.

Brian-

I do vote with my wallet all the time. I don't buy certain products if I don't like the politics of the owners or where my money is going. Why would I buy a product from any company when I know that the profits from my purchase may be going to a cause I don't support? I also make sure certain friends and family know so that they may make similar informed choices.

What about the charges that on multiple occasions women have been fired from Chick-Fil-A, and men hired in their place, after the women were repeatedly told they belong at home with their kids? You know, because that's what the Bible says.

@Helen,

If I worked for him, I would quit. Free markets (such as they are) allow employees to choose their employers. Government should stay out of this.

Maybe this is really just about NYU. Quinn just gave them a big wet kiss for hated new development in the Village, so now she's got to act like she's cracking down on them to appease the locals. sad political ploy.

Hm, you just made me think about something (Uh oh, I'm thinking)... Uh do you think Bill and Melissa Gates have Iphones? and maybe Ipads/pods?? Hmm.

It's not "tricky to figure out"! IT'S A NON ISSUE. Christ what a lot of blather about absolutely nothing.

The first caller is absolutely right. If the company is following labor laws, then why should pols be attacking the company? Confront Dan Cathy. But when the state enters the debate, it's a very dangerous road. God help me, I actually agree with Huckabee.

Why are the gays tripping? He only said out loud what other business owners say/think while they take your money at other places!! Reality check please.

This is blown out of proportion. Don't go there if you support gay rights. Politicians as leaders can certainly use their bully pulpit to denounce this guy's stance, but should not take action to deny them the right to do business. Same as the founder as Domino's Pizza, who founded a right wing "university" in The Ft Meyers area. Lastly, this guy had to expect blowback from his comments, so I don't think the response is unwarranted. Kind of like the Tebow backlash- if he just shut up he wouldn't get all the hate.

Yes. Freedom from religion would be wonderful. Maybe Bloomberg can ban it -- it does at least as much damage as Big Gulps.

Doesn't all this attention just amount to free publicity for Chick-Fil-A?

I'd barely heard of them before the controversy. They're generally located in conservative areas, so they'll probably only gain from any boycott.

The owner of Chick-Fil-A is entitled to his opinion and consumers are entitled to theirs. If consumers don't like the owner's opinion, they don't have to eat at his restaurant. In this country, we can vote with our wallets. If you don't like what he says, don't eat at Chick-Fil-A and if enough people boycott with their wallets, they'll go out of business. Very simple concept.

To Robert - "So go ahead and sell your homophobic chicken" - ha! ha! ha! I laughed out loud.

Smart business people keep their political thoughts to themselves.

It'd be nice if Brian Lehrer knew what he was talking about before he said something, i.e., Quinn writing on official letterhead and NOT as a private citizen. Makes all the difference.

The one question I have yet to see answered - is Quinn writing to Muslim owned businesses that oppose gay marriage or is she just going after one that OPENLY donates money to something she doesn't like?

Quack.

Oh please here you go again defending Quinn. First of all she IS the president of the city council and that she claims that she made her statement as a "private citizen" is baloney. She's also running for Mayor next year and she's one of the most opportunistic politicians I know. I don't trust Quinn. But back to Chick fil A or whatever it's called, I am gay and I agree with Tom from UWS. Yes they give money to homophobic issues and organizations but the CEO has a right to his own opinions. It's up to us to express our free speech rights and not support his business. If we disagree completely with the man's politics then don't give him your money or support in any way. So go ahead and sell you homophobic chicken and I won't buy/eat it!!

The real problem is that we are governed by a constitution not by the bible and people need to recognize this. What we need is more freedom from religion than have freedom of religion.

I think it's tricky because as the CEO, his personal beliefs can affect how people are treated in the organization. Does his homophobia infringe on the rights of any homosexual employees of chick-fil-a? That is the only reason I can see that the government could step in over these comments.

Have any licenses to open a new Chik-Fil-A been denied? Have health department inspectors been instructed to 'go hard' on these franchises? No. Does the franchisors beliefs have any impact on what the franchisee believes on this issue? No.

Tempest in a teapot, guys. I wish Domino's and White Castle spent their money on better political positions but they won't.

I disagree vehemently with Mr. Cathay's position and will not patronize the chain in the future. However, Speaker Quinn and Mayors Menino and Emanuel are wrong. It's not for government to push out businesses, or refuse them permits, because of their beliefs, however noxious. Mr. Cathay has not called for violence against gays. He has not refused to serve gays. He's against gay marriage. He's entitled to his opinion.

It's a shame though. They make really good chicken sandwiches.

Free speech applies, no government involvement needed...just don't patronize the business and any kissers taking pictures without a purchase should be arrested for trespassing.

(1) Never heard of Chick Fil A before this came up - sounds like a huge publicity boon for them.

(2) I'm 100% in support of gay marriage, and Mr. Chick Fil A makes my skin crawl.

(3) Christine Quinn is just being silly - or maybe trying to grab some publicity for herself for 2013.

No one's free speech rights have been harmed or impinged upon. Cathy can say whatever he wants and the fact that he has actively worked to bar or take away other peoples' rights, he and his business are fair game in terms of others speaking out and organizing against he and his company.

@ John - The mayors were foolish to say that they would ban Chik-Fil-A in their respective city's because, in fact, there is nothing they can do. Of course, they can speak their mind, too.

Bravo, Sheldon !!!!!!!!!!!!

If the president of Chik fil-a, had given $$$ to "the Muslim brotherhood," did a "Henry Ford" about "The Jews" or spoke out against "interracial marriage." I have a funny feeling, the likes of the NY Post would change their tune, (at least for the first two.)

Did Rahm Emanuel's Obama Admin, go out of their way to recognize or enforce marriage equality on the federal level? Didn't think so.

At the end of the day. Mr. Chicken head has a right to say whatever and give $$$ to whom he pleases. Politicians have a right to say they disagree. People have a right to boycott.

The line is crossed when politicians threaten businesses with punitive measures or pressure as C. Quinn has done with Chick Fil-A's LL, NYU.

We all have or are supposed to have Free Speech. When the head of a Corp brings his personnel views to a public forum then He should expect a reaction and a boycot from people who believe differntly.
I am so sick of the far rights pushing wedge issues and Invoking "Their God" ....

To paraphrase Frank Zappa " Dumb all over even a little ugly on the side...God says .. Lets bomb their Temples so we can erect our own, burn n destroy Dumb all over and a little ugly on the side...
BTW Liberals and Progressives are NOT restricting your right to worship, and there is a Separation of Church n State

OK, so the mayors of Washington and Chicago, and the head of the city council of NYC want to ban an organization that does not like gay marriage.

I assume they will next be going to ban the Catholic Church? And Orthodox jews? And Buddhists? Are those who do not have politically and religiously correct views going to be asked to leave these cities?

Where can I get the list of what my political and religious views have to be to remain in NYC?

This whole "controversy" is just a normal American train wreck of mediocre-to-low-intelligence. Cathy said what he said, freely, people were free to be offended by it, and respond in kind, freely. So what. Nobody's 1st Amendment privileges were impinged in either direction. What is more disturbing is Cathy's assumption, indeed that it's a given, that the Bible is the word of "God" and that gay marriage goes against the word of "God", as if Cathy had any more idea of the truth of the existence of God than anybody else does. And the other more disturbing aspect is how offended so many people got, as if being offended by one person's viewpoint is an important adult activity; as if he was the first person on earth to be uncomfortable with same sex marriage and say so. I say to all, grow the f)))ck up and eat at Chick Fil A even though Cathy thinks what he tiny mindedly thinks, and stop acting like a bunch of ridiculous babies and let this absurd matter drop.

Can you even imagine a northeast liberal-minded chain operator making an anti-gun statement. The conservatives and religious right would be running around with their hair on fire! We’ve lost so much civility since people who disagree stopped talking to each other, and began blaming each other for everything bad that happens. It seems that speech is free as long as you agree with "me."

I am a gay man, and I see two sides to the issue.
First, this controversy is not a matter merely of the words of Dan Cathy, but the fact that the company donated nearly $2 million to anti-gay organizations and actions, including California's Prop 8.
On the other hand, I find the statements by mayors and others that Chick Fil A is not welcome to be foolish at best, and even improper. Tell the company "Our local fair employment and accommodation laws forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation." And if they can't say that, they should get to work on it.