Peter Tatchell Foundation pickets "secret" UK HQ of "homophobic" fast-food giant Chick-fil-A
– 3 min read
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. Its 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 12pm today, 3 September, to protest the company’s "long record of funding anti-LGBTQ+ causes in the US and to warn against its stealth entry into the UK market".
Chick-fil-A knows its brand is toxic in the UK, so it’s trying to sneak in through the back door.
Peter Tatchell, Director of the Foundation, handed in a letter addressed to Chick-fil-A’s Head of Operations in the UK, Joanna Symonds, which was accepted by Nicki Marsh, the Finance Lead.
According to Peter Tatchell Foundation, Chick-Fil-A’s homophobia is "based on religion". Its 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’.
Sign the Petition - Check-fil-HATE
We, the undersigned, call on Chick-fil-A to publicly apologise for its history of funding anti-LGBT+ causes and give assurances that it will not fund these causes again in the future – before expanding into the UK. We also urge local councils in areas where Chick-fil-A is planning to open outlets to not support or approve … Continue reading Sign the Petition
Peter Tatchell 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-LGBTQ+ 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
“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 LGBTQ+ 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 LGBTQ+ human rights.
They have refused to reply,” said Mr Tatchell.
After protests in 2019, its first UK branch in Reading was forced to close within six months.
The Peter Tatchell Foundation insists that Chick-fil-A must come clean about its UK operations and renounce all funding of anti-LGBTQ+ organisations.
Peter Tatchell added: “Chick-fil-A’s funding of bigotry is out of step with British values. We urge landlords and local authorities not to lease or license them premises and for consumers to boycott their restaurants. There should be no place in the UK for a business that profits from prejudice.”
