A group of protesters gathered today on Denver’s 16th Street Mall carrying signs and speaking in protest of Chick-Fil-A, a corporation that they say has anti-gay policies and has donated to groups that work against same-sex marriage.
Denver protesters rallied near the corner of 16th and Tremont, in front of the Chick-Fil-A in the food court under Republic Plaza. Chick-Fil-A supporters had chosen August 1 to visit the stores, which have recently come under fire after Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy in June defended his and the company’s opposition to same-sex marriage through an interview with a North Carolina Baptist newspaper, The Biblical Recorder.
Protesters opposing the Restaurant’s stance pointed to Chris Gandt as the one behind organizing today’s 16th Street Mall counter-demonstration that supported LGBT rights. Gandt stood on the walkway waving a “Don’t Tread On Me” flag and said that the event was about free speech.
“Our main audience is the rest of the people here,” Gandt said referring to the media and passers-by on the 16th Street Mall. “We have our audience here, and also Chick-Fil-A as an audience saying we don’t want our money going to anti-gay lobbyists.”
Gandt said he organized the protest by emailing people he knows, including through his affiliation with the Libertarian Party and the Occupy movement. He said he tried to rally support from other Colorado LGBT community groups, who were not interested in joining the protest.
Another protester, Scott Williams, said that the Libertarian cause was a big part of the reason he was there.
“I’m a long time member of the party and we support gay marriage – we’ve been ahead of the curve,” Williams said. “Chick-Fil-A can do what they want – the First Amendment supports their right to support what they believe in, and the First Amendment also supports our right to oppose them.”
Williams said he hopes as many people as possible will be aware of Chick-Fil-A’s policies because of the protest.
“If someone who’s gay or supports the gay cause will stop going there, that’s good,” Williams said. “Hopefully if we affect their sales enough they’ll adopt a more tolerant attitude.”
Debbie Brady, 62, a transgender woman at the protest, said that though she has no plans to get married soon, it bothers her when entities like Chick-Fil-A refuse to acknowledge equality.
“We want the same rights as everyone else,” Brady said. “We want to make an impression and let the rest of America know that [Chick-Fil-A president Dan] Cathy is an aberration – not representative of everyone.”
A few passers-by stopped to watch the gathering and the TV cameras around it. A few others spectators shouted “the food’s good” at the protesters as they climbed the food court stairs up from the Chick-Fil-A. A man in business attire questioned protester Lance Bowles, asking if it would be OK if the Mayor of Denver were to ban businesses that support pro-gay causes – and why it should be OK to ban businesses that oppose gay causes.
Bowles later told Out Front, “I’m out here to show my support for the gay community and because I’m practicing freedom of speech just like Chick-Fil-A is doing. The freedom of speech they are exercising is hate speech and bigotry.”
He said part of his message is intended for lawmakers.
“People usually think that lawmakers are the ones who create change. But if we’re not out here protesting, our lawmakers won’t know it’s important to us.”
“I haven’t eaten at a Chick-Fil-A in years,” Bowles added. “Which sucks, because I love the food.”
