Chick-fil-A is no longer welcome at the San Antonio International Airport.
Last week, San Antonio City Council voted 6-4 to ban the popular chicken eatery from their airport terminal. Chick-fil-A was originally one of the restaurants set to be included by the airport’s retail contractor, but the council filed an amendment to discriminate against the company due to their beliefs on marriage.
“With this decision, the City Council reaffirmed the work our city has done to become a champion of equality and inclusion,” said Council Member Robert Treviño, right after excluding a company solely because he disagrees with their beliefs. “San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior. Everyone has a place here, and everyone should feel welcome when they walk through our airport.”
Everyone is welcome, apparently, except those Treviño disagrees with.
City council’s decision sparked backlash nationwide, with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz calling it “ridiculous” on Twitter.
The details of this story are even worse. San Antonio City Council voted to ban @ChickfilA from the airport bc the company gave to…the Fellowship of Christian Athletes & the Salvation Army?!? That’s ridiculous. And not Texas. #LeftistIntolerance https://t.co/ApTnlpS2E0
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 23, 2019
Cruz continued in another tweet:
The citizens of beautiful San Antonio deserve more delicious sandwiches, and fewer rabid attacks against companies because of their charitable giving to the community. Come on. —> https://t.co/Nvh0GN30EO
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) March 22, 2019
Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff noted the deeper concern of government retaliating against individuals who share different beliefs than the elected officials.
“We talk about being tolerant and not retaliating against individual beliefs and thoughts, even if our beliefs and thoughts are diametrically opposed to those of others. But do we actually practice this in our government? Unfortunately, we do not,” Wolff stated.
The county official continued, “[City council] chose to retaliate against a company whose thoughts and beliefs are different than their majority. Does this make Council right and the company wrong? Does it make the company’s thoughts and beliefs right and those of the Council wrong? These are the wrong questions to ask. Don’t they both have the right to express their beliefs and thoughts without retaliation? Isn’t this the question we should be asking? If you can’t stomach someone else’s opinion, that’s your prerogative, but your job as an elected is to defend their right to have an opinion—not to pass judgment in the form of retaliation.”
Chick-fil-A also released a statement following the decision:
“The press release issued by [councilman Roberto Treviño] was the first we heard of his motion and its approval by the San Antonio city council. We wish we had the opportunity to clarify misperceptions about our company prior to the vote. We agree with the council member that everyone should feel welcome at Chick-fil-A. In fact, we have welcomed everyone in San Antonio into our 32 local stores for more than 40 years.”
The company welcomed the city council to have a “thoughtful dialogue” and invited them to experience for themselves how their local stores welcome all people.
“We are proud of the positive impact we are making in communities across America, and specifically in San Antonio, and have been transparent about our giving on our website. On a related note, Chick-fil-A was named ‘Best Franchise Brand’ in 2018 by Airport Revenue News.”
