Secret London office of homophobic Chick-fil-A exposed
The Peter Tatchell Foundation has uncovered the hidden UK headquarters of homophobic US fast-food giant Chick-fil-A, which is bidding to open restaurants in the UK.
It is operating from a secret office at 81 High Holborn, London WC1, without any public signage and its office is not listed on its UK website. It’s nameplate on the building was allegedly removed after it got wind of the campaign to block its UK launch by the Peter Tatchell Foundation.
Campaigners picketed the Chick-fil-A office at 12 noon today, 3 September, to protest the company’s long record of funding anti-LGBT+ causes in the US and to warn against its stealth entry into the UK market.
Chick-Fil-A’s homophobia is based on religion. It’s website states: ”Our Corporate Purpose – To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us.”
Over 1,500 people have signed a petition demanding Chick-fil-A stop funding homophobic campaigns or to ‘Cluck off’: Chick-fil-HATE.com
Peter Tatchell, Director of the Foundation, said:
“Chick-fil-A knows its brand is toxic in the UK, so it’s trying to sneak in through the back door. It has no sign on its London office and nothing online to say where it is located. But we found them. It even blocks its US website site from being viewed in Britain. Why the secrecy? Probably because it doesn’t want British consumers to know about its long history of bankrolling anti-LGBT+ hate groups. We say: Chick-fil-A is not welcome here.
“Chick-fil-A’s US charitable arm has donated millions to organisations that oppose same-sex marriage, promote so-called conversion therapy, and campaign against laws to protect LGBT+ people against discrimination.
“These include donations to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Focus on the Family and the National Christian Charitable Foundation—groups that have campaigned against the US Equality Act and continue to promote discriminatory homophobic laws and policies.
“We have repeatedly written to Chick-fil-A’s US headquarters and the UK firm that handles it’s public relations, Lexington Communications, asking Chick-fil-A to give assurances that it will not fund individuals, organisations and campaigns that oppose LGBT+ human rights.