This California Chick-fil-A Gave Free Meals to Gay Marriage Supporters

Corey Braun,  franchisee of the Chick-fil-A location in Rancho Cucamonga, California, offered free meal coupons to gay marriage advocates demonstrating Monday at a nearby intersection.

The move is unexpected, given anti-gay statements made by Dan Cathy, the COO of Chick-fil-A, back in July.  “I wanted to show that Chick-fil-A doesn’t discriminate against anybody. We serve everyone. We’re happy to serve the community and this was an opportunity to have this group come in and show them our hospitality regardless of their beliefs, sexual orientation, or whatever,” Braun expressed to Daily Bulletin. He continued to say that Cathy’s personal opinion on gay rights did not reflect the fast food chain’s overall attitude when it comes to service. “Chick-fil-A has never been about hate,” said Braun.

Eden Anderson, a board member with the local LGBT rights group Equality Inland Empire, described Braun’s support at the demonstrations as surreal. As the Chick-fil-A franchisee spoke to demonstrators through a microphone and amplifier, the crowd listened warily at first.

“The crowd was very accepting, of course,” said Anderson. “We got quiet and we were listening, and with some skepticism. But really, what I experienced with the community, is when people are open and apologetic and accepting, it’s touching to us. It feels like acceptance and we just want to be accepted and engaged in society, so when it’s confirmed, I think the overall reaction was, yes, certainly that Chick-fil-A in Rancho Cucamonga is welcoming to us. ”

H/T Daily Bulletin + PicThx Chick-fil-A FB