The mayors of Chicago and Boston have let it be known that Chick-fil-A is not welcome in their town.  Regardless of the merits of accepting gay marriage on an equal footing with traditional marriage, I find it bothersome that a political leader- even on a local basis- would in any way infringe on the economic right of a business because of how politically correct the owners or managers are.

Totally equality of gay marriage may one day come to pass, but it is not the law of the land today, and in fact has been rejected by most of the states that have submitted it to a referendum.

I wonder if Don Cathy was black if the mayors would have been so quick to reject his business.  Gay marriage is not widely accepted in the black communities, and Romney was applauded at the NAACP for his support of traditional marriage.

What other politically correct triggers could subvert the economic rights of a business?  If a business owner was a strong supporter of second amendment rights in the aftermath of the Aurora theatre shooting, could a mayor deny them a business license?  If a business owner was Muslim and a supporter of Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood should he be refused permission to open a business?

In fact , in Boston the mayor, while taking a promiscuous stand against the accused anti-gay rhetoric of Chick Filet had no problem welcoming a new mosque to town that is far less tolerant of gays.

from Boston Herald , Radical Iman OK nut not Chik-fil-A

Given his stance on Chick-fil-A, would Mayor Tom Menino grant permits to a group that has counted among its leaders a man who has repeatedly called homosexuality a “crime that must be punished” by death?

Actually, he has done that  . . . and more! Menino effectively gave away city land valued at $1.8 million to the organization, and he gave a speech at its ribbon-cutting ceremony.

It’s the Islamic Society of Boston’s mosque, and when it comes to anti-gay sentiment, one of its early supporters makes Chick-fil-A look like the Provincetown Men’s Chorus.

(The) mayor was all but giving away city land to the Islamic Society of Boston, even as they were presenting as one of their spiritual guides an imam who says homosexuals should be killed.

Individuals who wish to boycott a business for whatever reasons are within their private rights.  But a politician who wishes to subject a business to a requirement to adhere to the politically correct positions as a condition to be allowed a business license is a dangerous breach of our freedom.  Rahm Emmanuel of Chicago has backed down. Boston’s mayor should do so as well.

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