For the 2nd time in as many weeks the anti-Christian bias that pervades the Democratic Party was on display. A Democratic politician in New York stopped a new Chick-fil-A from opening at an airport after an agreement had already been established that the restaurant would come.
The Chick-fil-A restaurant was part of a planned upgrade in food options at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and would have opened by fall.
But New York State Democratic Assemblyman Sean Ryan singled out the Chick-fil-A part of the plan and pressured the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) to change its decision.
“I was disappointed to learn of the NFTA’s decision to introduce Chick-fil-A as a restaurant option at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport. Chick-fil-A has a long history of supporting and funding anti-LGBTQ organizations,” Ryan said in a statement posted to Facebook. “The views of Chick-fil-A do not represent our state or the Western New York community, and businesses that support discrimination have no place operating in taxpayer-funded public facilities.”
Ryan said he received this statement from NFTA capitulating to his demands.
“First and foremost, the NFTA is an organization that prides itself on its strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and stand firmly against any form of discrimination. We have the utmost respect for Assemblyman Ryan and consider him a great partner and friend to us.”
Again, whom does Chick-fil-A donate to? The information is openly available on their website and is part of their tax returns. These include True Inspiration Awards, The Salvation Army, The Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Junior Achievement. Did NFTA even bother to find out where the donations were going? Why is it wrong to donate to these organizations? Apparently donating to a Christian organization is now considered to be anti-LGBT behavior. Who’s next? The YMCA?
Even the ACLU, an organization which has been drifting from its once staunch support for civil liberties, found Assemblyman Ryan’s position troubling. Erika Lorshbough, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs for its NY chapter noted:
“Government actors cannot officially silence speech or take punitive actions based on a person’s or private entity’s political viewpoints. The First Amendment does not permit the NFTA to base its contracting decisions on the political views of a vendor.”
Ryan’s statements are totally incredulous. He is saying that supporting Christian organizations is an anti-LGBT act by definition. Was he following the ridiculous lead of the San Antonio City Council or is he really anti-Christian? When he refers to the values of Western New York does he mean that New Yorkers should not allow Christians in the public square?
How about NFTA? NFTA stands firmly against “any form of discrimination.” However, NFTA caved to pressure from Ryan and has decided to discriminate against an organization on the basis that they are a Christian business. This is religious discrimination and is unconstitutional in this country. Has western New York State seceded from the country?
Chick-fil-A is open and accommodating to all who wish to partake of their fares. They deny service to no one. They are the most popular fast food restaurant in the country. A spokesperson noted,
“The 140,000 people who serve customers in our restaurants on a daily basis represent and embrace all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Our intent is to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”
Ryan’s action is part of the left‘s campaign to diminish the rights of all Christians in this country. This is another example of the Democratic Party attempting to align its values with the Communist Party. They seem to have forgotten that western NY State is part of the United States of America and that everyone is entitled to the protections of the 1st Amendment.
This is the modern Democratic Party.