NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn Demands Apology From Chick-Fil-A, Calls For Closing City's Only Franchise

Openly gay NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn is bucking the lead of her boss Mayor Bloomberg, who yesterday said that he would not stand in the way of Chick-Fil-A opening new franchises in the five boroughs. Via press release from the City Council:

City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn responded today to Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy’s recent anti-gay remarks, stating that New York City is not a place that welcomes intolerance and homophobia, and that Chick-fil-A establishments are not welcome as long as Cathy maintains his discriminatory views.

Quinn launched a social media campaign for New Yorkers to voice their opposition to Cathy’s discrimination against the LGBT community. Calling on all New Yorkers to take action, the Speaker launched an online petition that declares Chick-fil-A is not welcome in New York City as long as the company’s president continues to uphold and promote his discriminatory views.

The social campaign is being promoted through Twitter, Facebook and on the Council's website. The petition can be found here. Separately, in a letter to NYU President John Sexton, Speaker Quinn called on NYU to take action to remove Chick-fil-A from the university’s campus. She noted that current employees of NYU’s Chick-fil-A should be hired at any new establishment that replaces the chain.

Quinn's letter to NYU's president reads in part:

Let me be clear - I do not want establishments in my city that hold such discriminatory views. We are a city that believes our diversity is our greatest strength and we will fight any anything and anyone that runs counter to that. I know from our long relationship that you and your university elebrate the diversity of NYC. Your history is in this area is exemplary. As such I urge you to sever your relationship with the Chick-Fil-A establishment that exists on your campus. This establishment should be replaced with an establishment where ownership does not denigrate a portion of our population.