New Hampshire Chick-a-Fil to sponsor Pride Fest
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/08/01/nh-pride-fest-organizer-nashua-chick-fil-a-owner-to-sponsor-us/
NASHUA, NH (CBS) - A Nashua Chick-Fil-A restaurant will be sponsoring New Hampshire Pride Fest.
Ryan Manseau, the senior director of Pride Fest, told WBZ-TV he was handing out fliers at the Pheasant Lane Mall recently to promote his event and noticed a man who appeared to be a Chick-Fil-A manager holding one.
The chain has a restaurant in the mall and its CEO’s opposition to gay marriage started a national furor last month.
Manseau said he approached the man, bracing for a verbal confrontation. He turned out to be the franchise operator, Anthony Piccola, who agreed to help sponsor the event and to serve Chick-Fil-A sandwiches there.
“Chick-fil-A at Pheasant Lane Mall has gay employees and serves gay customers with honor, dignity and respect,” a NH Pride Fest statement quoted Piccola as saying. “We also don’t discriminate in giving back to the Nashua community, donating to a wide variety of causes. I would challenge people to come have a conversation with me before they make assumptions or boycott my restaurant.”
Piccola said in a statement to WBZ-TV that he is dedicated to supporting the local community and gives to a wide variety of causes in area.
“The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender,” Piccola’s statement read.
The New Hampshire Pride Fest is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m on Saturday, August 11 at Veterans Memorial Park in Manchester
NASHUA, NH (CBS) - A Nashua Chick-Fil-A restaurant will be sponsoring New Hampshire Pride Fest.
Ryan Manseau, the senior director of Pride Fest, told WBZ-TV he was handing out fliers at the Pheasant Lane Mall recently to promote his event and noticed a man who appeared to be a Chick-Fil-A manager holding one.
The chain has a restaurant in the mall and its CEO’s opposition to gay marriage started a national furor last month.
Manseau said he approached the man, bracing for a verbal confrontation. He turned out to be the franchise operator, Anthony Piccola, who agreed to help sponsor the event and to serve Chick-Fil-A sandwiches there.
“Chick-fil-A at Pheasant Lane Mall has gay employees and serves gay customers with honor, dignity and respect,” a NH Pride Fest statement quoted Piccola as saying. “We also don’t discriminate in giving back to the Nashua community, donating to a wide variety of causes. I would challenge people to come have a conversation with me before they make assumptions or boycott my restaurant.”
Piccola said in a statement to WBZ-TV that he is dedicated to supporting the local community and gives to a wide variety of causes in area.
“The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect -regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender,” Piccola’s statement read.
The New Hampshire Pride Fest is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m on Saturday, August 11 at Veterans Memorial Park in Manchester