GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Customers were lined up, even in the overnight hours, as northeast Wisconsin’s first Chick-fil-A opened Thursday in Grand Chute.
But customers hungry for the chain’s famous chicken weren’t the only ones who showed up to the restaurant.
Demonstrators were there speaking out about the company’s charitable donations to groups they view as anti-gay. There were about 20 demonstrators in total, with groups in two different locations around Chick-fil-A.
“With the new Chick-fil-A moving in, we needed a response, as well as what other cities and countries have done,” Nate Wolff, who planned the demonstration said.
“I think it’s important to let people know who they donate to and what they do with their money.”
Wolff is referring to Chick-fil-A’s donations to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and others like it.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes website states that it believes marriage is between a man and a woman. It also requires camp counselors to sign a “sexual purity statement” saying homosexuality is not acceptable.
“They’re blocking employment by LGBQ people which is generally speaking, illegal,” Helen Boyd, a demonstrator from Appleton said.
Chick-fil-A has previously donated to the Paul Anderson Youth Home. The organization is accused of being anti-gay.
Boyd tells FOX 11 it’s all about education.
“We’re worried that some people don’t actually know the policies of Chick-fil-A. And they donate to a lot of groups that basically try to legislate people like me out of existence.”
Others, like this man waiting at the drive-thru, tell FOX 11 they believe some are making a big deal out of nothing.
“After the Orlando shooting, the massacre down in Orlando, Chick-fil-A opened their doors on Sunday to feed the victims, the families and the first responders. So the media push of they hate the gay community, the LGBT community, to me it’s a little far fetched. I haven’t dug far enough into it to really see, but from what I understand it’s not as bad as they say it is.”
Chick-fil-A responded with this statement:
“We are aware of the demonstration and while we respect everyone’s right to free speech, it is important to note that Chick-fil-A does not have a political or social agenda. Our franchise owners and Team Members come from different backgrounds and beliefs, and we welcome and embrace all people in our restaurant, regardless of religion, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
