CHICAGO, August 1, 2012 — What does a “hate-free” chicken sandwich actually taste like? Inquiring taste buds may want to know.

With supporters across the country planning to turn out for the controversial Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day Wednesday, some Chicago restaurants are offering what they are calling a “hate-free” chicken sandwich to show their support for gay marriage. 

Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was initially proposed by former Republican presidential candidate-turned Fox News host Mike Huckabee.

“Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same sex marriage, abortion, or profanity, but if Christians affirm traditional values, we’re considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers, and intolerant,” said Huckabee.

As of Wednesday morning, more than 600,000 people across the country had pledged to visit a Chick-fil-A location to protest discriminatory moves by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to attempt to block the food chain’s expansion after president Dan Cathy made public statements in support of traditional marriage in an interview.

But can a chicken sandwich really be “hate-free” if it does not respect free speech? Can a good batter mask the bitter taste of religious discrimination?

Can you deep-fry the First Amendment and maintain your claim to integrity?

In Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, Hamburger Mary’s is promoting a “hate-free” Southern-style chicken sandwich as their “burger of the month.” A promotion for the sandwich features Hamburger Mary, the chain’s mascot, holding a sign that says “Eat More Mary’s,” intended to mock Chick-Fil-A’s iconic slogan.   

The founders of the chain, Ashley and Brandon Wright say that they want “to create a chicken sandwich made from free-range and ‘hate-free’ chickens.” Both brothers are gay.

“We’ve developed a recipe that is pretty darn good, and this is the perfect opportunity to launch it,” said Ashley Wright, co-founder of the San Francisco-based chain.

The sandwich is described as a “juicy chicken breast with Mary’s secret recipe batter – Southern Fried and served with herb mayo & pickles on a bakery fresh bun.”

Hearty, a restaurant in Chicago’s Lakeview area, is serving up a fried chicken sandwich on a buttery bun complete with its own rainbow flag, the symbol of the gay rights movement.

The chicken sandwich is served on a buttery bun with pickles and a side of fries. Owners, Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, will be donating all proceeds to Equality Illinois, a non-profit organization that promotes gay marriage.

Equality Illinois is among those non-profit organizations leading the charge against Chick-fil-A.

“As we question the company’s anti-LGBT policies, we must ask the universities and mall owners why they want to do business with a company that holds up hate as a family value,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, in a statement.

Ironically, America was founded on the principle of religious freedom, a place where people could escape persecution for practicing their beliefs.

For many across the country, the new government attacks on free speech and religious liberty have left a bad totalitarian taste.

And not even Mary’s Secret Sauce can cover that up.

Conservative commentator and satirist William J. Kelly is also a contributor to Breitbart.com and edits the Tea Party Reports for the Washington Times Communities. He is a native from Chicago’s Southside.

Email questions to him at williamjkellyrebuild@gmail.com.

Find him on Facebook/Williamjpkelly

Read more of Bill Kelly’s Truth Squad in The Communities at the Washington Times

 

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