According to NJ.com, Mayor Venezia and openly gay Councilman Rich Rockwell have criticized the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s decision because of Chick-fil-A’s CEO’s stance on same-sex marriage and its past support for anti-LGBTQ+ groups and lawmakers.
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“Chick-fil-A has a long, documented history of opposing same-sex marriage and supporting anti-LGBTQ legislators and organizations,” Venezia said. “I implore the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to reconsider this decision and to instead choose a restaurant that is more in line with our values.”
Rockwell released a statement criticizing the company for imposing religion on people, saying, “Chick-fil-A imposes its religion on employees, customers and operators and as a publicly funded entity, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority should not allow this type of business on the Parkway.”
Same-Sex Couple in Maine Own a Chick-fil-A
Last week, WJBQ 97.9 radio personality Lori Voornasa in Portland, Maine, wrote in an article that a same-sex married couple own a Chick-fil-A in Westbrook, Maine.
Voornas, who announced to her listeners in 2001 that she was gay, said she has avoided Chick-fil-A because of stories surrounding Cathy having an anti-gay agenda.
“Call it peer pressure, but being gay and in the public eye—I feel a slight responsibility to do ‘the right thing,’” Voornas said. “I figured, whether right or wrong, not eating at the new exciting Westbrook Chick-fil-A was doing my tiny part of not contributing to anything anti-LGBTQ+.”
The long-time radio personality was asked to help promote a pet food drive that was happening at a local Chick-fil-A. Voornas shared that she wanted to help but realized that would mean she’d have to promote Chick-fil-A. After doing some research, she discovered that the Westbrook Chick-fil-A was owned by Brad and Jeremy Terrell, a same-sex couple who opened the state’s second Chick-fil-A last October (2021).
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Voornas called Chick-Fil-A’s customer relations regarding the Terrells owning a restaurant and questioned why their relationship wasn’t publicized, “given CFA’s history of donating to anti-LGBTQ causes.”
Chick-fil-A responded by telling Voornas that Brad Terrell’s desire is to focus more on “doing good in the community, rather than being a spokesperson for the gay community.”
“As a Chick-fil-A Operator, I have the opportunity to choose unique ways for our business to give back to this city,” Brad said. “Supporting causes that are most meaningful to me, our Guests and our Team Members. My husband, Jeremy, and I have a tremendous love for animals, and we knew we wanted one of our first partnerships to benefit our four-legged friends in the area.”
Voornas shared that she would be going to the Westbrook Chick-fil-A to donate some dog food for their pet food drive. She also said she’d be trying their chicken.