Attempts by Chicago and Boston politicians to block the opening of Chick-fil-A restaurants because of the company president’s views on marriage would be unconstitutional and also set a dangerous precedent for other businesses, say several attorneys.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel each have been quoted as saying they want to prevent Chick-fil-As from opening in their cities, with Menino declaring in a letter to Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy, “There is no place for discrimination on Boston’s Freedom Trail and no place for your company alongside it.” The Freedom Trail is a path through the city’s streets highlighting historic buildings. Emanuel voiced agreement with a Chicago alderman who also opposes a new Chick-fil-A, saying of the company, “They disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents.”
Cathy, in two interviews in recent weeks — including one reposted on Baptist Press — has said he believes in the biblical definition of marriage. The company issued a statement saying it treats every customer with “honor, dignity and respect” and that, “going forward,” it is going to stay out of the gay “marriage” debate.
David Cortman, an attorney with the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), said a restaurant cannot be blocked from opening because of the restaurant’s or the owner’s beliefs.
“It absolutely is not constitutional,” Cortman told Baptist Press. “And I think the irony here is that they are claiming this is an issue of freedom and civil rights, but they’re actually the ones who would be violating the civil rights of Chick-fil-A not to allow them to open up their business simply because of their views.”
But the issue concerns more than just Chick-fil-A, Cortman said, and impacts any business or organization in America whose owners hold views different from that of the government. Boston and Chicago would be practicing viewpoint discrimination — a violation of the Constitution’s Free Speech clause, Cortman said.
“It does create both a dangerous and an illegal precedent,” he said. “The government shouldn’t be in the business of threatening or punishing people for their thoughts or ideas — whether they are individuals or businesses themselves. And, there’s certainly a double standard. You did not hear a politician threatening to deny permits to companies like Home Depot or Starbucks or Target over those companies’ aggressive promotion of the homosexual agenda.”
Mat Staver, president of the legal group Liberty Counsel, said he, too, believes the attempts would be unconstitutional.
“No city can ban Chick-fil-A because the (company) president has his own view regarding marriage — a view that is held by much of the American public,” Staver told Fox News. “To discriminate against Mr. Cathy because of his biblical view and then to extrapolate that to Chick-fil-A is illegal. It would be unconstitutional and certainly any city trying to do so would not win that battle.”
Eugene Volokh, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote on his blog, “Denying a private business permits because of such speech by its owner is a blatant First Amendment violation.”
The Chicago alderman who initially spoke up against Chick-fil-A, Joe Moreno, told local media he might simply block a proposed new Chick-fil-A in his ward because of traffic concerns. Moreno, though, previously said he opposed a new Chick-fil-A because it was “intolerant” and because he disagreed with Cathy.
Cortman, the ADF attorney, said Moreno will not legally be able to use a legitimate reason — traffic concerns — as cover for his previous comments.
“His true motivations already have been made public, so I think any attempt to backtrack to create what normally would be a legitimate reason wouldn’t work in this situation,” Cortman said.
The Los Angeles Times and Boston Globe editorial boards — normally not sources of traditional beliefs — have defended Chick-fil-A’s ability to open restaurants.
“Which part of the First Amendment does Menino not understand?” a Globe editorial read July 25. “A business owner’s political or religious beliefs should not be a test for the worthiness of his or her application for a business license.”
Meanwhile, support for Chick-fil-A continues to grow. Sign-ups for “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day,” launched by Mike Huckabee, surged past 300,000 at press time. The event was scheduled for Aug. 1.
Billy Graham also spoke up for the company July 26.
“I want to express my support for my good friends Truett Cathy and his son Dan Cathy, and for their strong stand for the Christian faith,” Graham said in a statement. “I’ve known their family for many years and have watched them grow Chick-fil-A into one of the best businesses in America while never compromising their values. Chick-fil-A serves each of its customers with excellence and treats everyone like a neighbor.
“Each generation faces different issues and challenges, but our standard must always be measured by God’s Word. I appreciate the Cathy family’s public support for God’s definition of marriage.”
Graham added, “I also appreciate Gov. Mike Huckabee’s leadership and for encouraging Americans to support Chick-fil-A on Aug. 1. As the son of a dairy farmer who milked many a cow, I plan to ‘Eat Mor Chikin’ and show my support by visiting Chick-fil-A next Wednesday.”
Huckabee has said Chick-fil-A deserves support.
“Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday, Aug. 1,” he wrote on Facebook. “Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same-sex ‘marriage,’ abortion or profanity, but if Christians affirm traditional values, we’re considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers and intolerant.
“There’s no need for anyone to be angry or engage in a verbal battle,” Huckabee added. “Simply affirm appreciation for a company run by Christian principles by showing up on … Aug. 1 or by participating online — tweeting your support or sending a message on Facebook.”
(Baptist Press)
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