NY Voters Poll: Let Chick-fil-A Do Business
Most New York City voters say Chick-fil-A should not be blocked from getting permits over its traditional stance on marriage, according to a new poll.
Amid debate over Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy's statement last month against same-sex marriage, 82 percent said there should be no impact on the fast-food chain's ability to get permits, a Quinnipiac University poll revealed Wednesday.
Also, 83 percent said elected officials should not try to discourage people from eating at Chick-fil-A.
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"New Yorkers may disagree with what you say, but they defend your right to sell chicken," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, in a statement.
The survey was conducted among 1,298 New York City voters. It follows comments by several mayors and other elected officials that they don't want Chick-fil-A in their cities.
Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino told the Boston Herald that "you can't have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against the population." He also vowed to block the company from opening a restaurant in his city though he later acknowledged that he can't keep Chick-fil-A from opening a branch.
Similar comments were made by the Chicago and Washington, D.C., mayors.
They were speaking in protest of Cathy's statements last month that he believes in the biblical family unit and that same-sex marriage was bringing God's judgment on the nation.
Chick-fil-A released a statement later, saying its culture and tradition is to "treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender."
The company is now facing hurdles on college campuses as some consider banning the famous chicken sandwiches. Davidson College in North Carolina temporarily suspended Chick-fil-A from campus events.
