On the heels of Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy’s very public funding of anti-gay marriage organizations, the operator of a Chick-fil-A franchise in New Hampshire has decided to strike back at his boss by donating sandwiches to an upcoming gay rights festival.
Franchisee Anthony Piccola said he will be lending his restaurant’s support to the New Hampshire Pride Fest, just as the restaurant chain has sat in the middle of a national firestorm about Cathy’s comments about gay marriage.
Piccola said that Chick-fil-A’s tradition is “is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect—regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender.” Last week he said the Nashua restaurant at the Pheasant Lane Mall has gay employees and serves gay customers “with honor, dignity and respect.”
Last month, Kathy told the Baptist Press last month that the Atlanta-based company was “guilty as charged” for backing “the biblical definition of a family.” In response to Kathy, gay rights groups have been calling for boycotts and efforts to block the chain from opening new stores.
One of the more dramatic protests planned is what opponents are calling “Kiss Mor Chiks” on Friday, when they are encouraging people of the same sex to show up at Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country and kiss each other.
The New Hampshire festival emphasizing “Unity Through Community,” scheduled for Aug. 11 in Manchester’s Veterans Park, will feature a march, music and a “family-friendly” drag show.
