The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA), Illinois’ largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights advocacy organization, working with cooperating attorneys and on behalf of claimants, filed multiple complaints against Chick-fil-A with The Illinois Department of Human Rights. Among other things, the complaints allege that Chick-fil-A’s “intolerant corporate culture” violates Illinois law, specifically Section 5-102(B) of the Human Rights Act, which prohibits a “public accommodation” from making protected classes “unwelcome, objectionable or unacceptable.”
“In our current high speed media and social media environment, Chick-fil-A has announced and caused to be published, to hundreds of millions of people, that LGBT people are unacceptable and objectionable,” said Jacob Meister, Governing Board President of The Civil Rights Agenda and the attorney who filed the complaint. “They have made it clear the lives of LGBT individuals are unacceptable to them and that same-gender families are unwelcome at Chick-fil-A.”
The names of the complainants are being kept confidential. “Given the extent of media coverage this issue has received, the current complainants have requested that their name be withheld from the media,” stated Anthony Martinez, Executive Director of The Civil Rights Agenda. “The complainants are a same-gender family with a daughter. Chick-fil-A used to be one of their favorite places to eat until Mr. Cathy’s latest statements were reported so widely. Now, they feel completely unwelcome in the establishment.”
19 Comments
The lawfare continues. Does anyone seriously believe than any new legal weapons flowing from a redefinition of marriage would be used with restraint?
It won't stick. They have no proof of this company harboring any sort of hostile environment or making people feel unwelcome.
This will only hurt SSMers. It makes them look intolerant, aggressive, and vindictive.
It is getting to the point that people are starting to think SS whenever they see LGBT.
Really, SSMers, did someone take your baby bottles away from you?...grow up.
This needs A LOT of publicity. That publicity should be done in a way that highlights the dangerous and extra-legal aspects of these "Human-Rights" codes.
We know what they have morphed into: both in other countries and in this one.
Like "hate-speech/crimes" legislation they are designed for this kind of abuse.
Any clever conservative media would use this as an oportunity to inform the public of how our laws are being manipulated into a weapon against dissent.
The only reason they feel completely unwelcome is because the activists have made it that way. They have spewed, smeared, and made such a fuss over it as if gays were going to be stoned the second they walked through the door, Unfortuantley, people fall for it. It'll fall flat, as well we know that gays ARE welcome, gays DO work there, and there are no Gays only restrooms. Get a clue LGBT.
The "lawfare" (nice, Publius! ) assault on First Amendment rights by the Gay Fascist lobby is in high gear now.
After Wednesday, they know what's coming at the polls.
Yeah, this leaves no doubt as to the intentions of these people. My question is, where are the fair minded who said Chick Fil A had a right to free speech, they just disagreed with the opinion given? Are they now going to stand up and say "this has gone too far"? Or will they continue to pretend and say this nation's freedom of religion concerns are not founded?
But,... they are not a protected social class that fits the illinois statute. They would like to be a protected class (so would any of us), but they are not, cry and whine as they may.
We need to hold Mitt Romney accountable for our votes to investigate these attacks on religious freedom as he promised and pledged.
Really? Crickets? I was hoping we'd have a whole slew of those opposition commenters commenting on this thread by now. Where's the solidarity guys?
Gay "rights" advocates cannot attack CFA under existing civil rights law because CFA does not discriminate. So they make up some bogus human "rights" claim that they feel unwelcome.
Does anyone honestly believe churches will be left alone after ssm?
"Does anyone honestly believe churches will be left alone after ssm?"
Nope.
@AM, as in "Nope, I sure don't. And I don't think SSMers do either, despite their claims to the contrary."
Ash
A lot of people are unaware of entities like "human rights" commissions that are, in fact, undermining our actual civil rights.
Remember the photographers in New Mexico? It was the New Mexico Human Rights Commission that found Elane Photography guilty of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
AM, I think cases like the NM photographer will eventually cause such "human rights" ordinances to be repealed, and the commissions to be abolished (or reformed in some way). This will happen the more Americans are made aware of cases like Elane Photography.
>>It is getting to the point that people are starting to think SS whenever they see LGBT.
I think we've been at that point for quite awhile, actually. But for the newbies just now learning about their tactics, yes, more and more are seeing the light.
These gay's are the haters in this country! There is no law against free speech or expression thereof. This law suit is nothing more than an attack on free speech and freedom to follow your religion.
The only reason these gay's are keeping their name concealed is because they know they are in the wrong I think people like them should be put in jail for attempting to violate Cathy's freedoms.
Marriage was born in religion. It is not a civil right! It never will be.
IMPEACH OBAMA NOW! ! ! ! !