Denver could reject Chick-fil-A opening a restaurant in the city because of the chain's anti-gay history.
Chick-fil-A is having some issues getting approval for a new location in Denver, and it's all because of the restaurant chain's anti-gay past.
City council members have halted the approval of a Chick-fil-A location at Denver International Airport as they debate whether or not the franchise should get a seven-year deal, according to the Denver Post. Chick-fil-A was "the second-most sought-after quick service brand at the airport, second to Chipotle," according to a 2013 survey of airport goers.
But council members voiced concerns over president Dan Cathy's views on gay marriage. When asked in 2012 whether he believed in the “Biblical definition of a family unit,” president Dan Cathy replied "guilty as charged."
"All of us become more wise as time goes by. We sincerely care about all people," Cathy told USA Today last year, after his words ignited a social media firestorm. "I'm going to leave it to politicians and others to discuss social issues."
Four Denver council members said they want assurances Chick-fil-A's hiring practices won't discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation, TV station WTHR noted. Openly gay councilwoman Robin Kniech is concerned that the franchise will be generating "corporate profits used to fund and fuel discrimination."
"This discussion -- the way it's unfolding here -- hasn't quite happened before in terms of a contract decision that you all have been asked to make, in all my years here," David Broadwell, assistant city attorney, said in a council meeting last Tuesday, the Denver Post reported.
The council's Business Development Committee will consider Chick-fil-A's proposal again when it meets on Sept. 1.
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