with this blithering nitwit bagman as mayor if we're at the forefront of anything i'd hate to see whats in the rear. this same holds true for wal-mart and cvs mini clinic being being kept from the city limits strictly because of the power trip of this gasbag mayor. ma

Mr. Menino demands and controls and dictates that you believe what he believes. That's his version of diversity and freedom. "My way or the Highway" - "Get in or get out of Boston", both slogans for the lovely people. Could politics and an election play any role here? What is Mr. Menino's next requirement for doing business in his "fair" city? He joins NY's mayor Bloomberg in exercising dictatorship control leading his city toward a microcosm of big brother fanaticism. Should you be alarmed by his exclusion of a prosperous business in Boston? Perhaps his next step will be in "weeding out" existing business leaders who do not publically proclaim their belief in and support of homosexual marriages. After Mr. Menino successfully administers his punishment to non-belivers, will he then establish an enthusiasm reqirement whereby only raucous, loudly cheering, financially supportive behavior will be tolerated. He celebrates diversity, but not difference of belief or opinion. Is that what the new diversiy means?

**********I am putting this story here because I can find no other place to put it. I have read nothing of this in the GLOBE and was wondering if the NEWSPAPER WAS SUPPRESSING NEWS. I had to go to the internet and found this story in the Worcester Telegram.**********NEW: Worcester Telegram, Boston Globe Facing Layoffs Tuesday, July 24, 2012 GolocalWorcester News Team "The Boston Globe and Worcester T&G are facing layoffs and buyouts, affecting a total of about fifty employees between the two markets. Both newspapers are owned by the same media group which is a subsidiary of the New York Times Company. With newsrooms across the nation are shrinking their staff as advertising revenue and circulation continue to fall, Assistant Professor of Journalism at Northeastern University, Dan Kennedy, says that it's hard to tell when the layoffs will stop. On June 6 2012, the newspaper industry made 600 layoffs in one day - not an industry record. "The Globe will stop cutting if executives can figure out how to bring in enough revenue to support a newsroom of a certain size. And if they somehow stumble across the magic formula for success, they will not only stop cutting, they'll start hiring," he said. He said that the recent layoffs were not entirely unexpected but there is hope that the Globe will reach a point where it does not need to lay off any more employees".********

Excluding a business because they discriminate against homosexuals is entirely different than excluding a business because they welcome homosexuals. I'm surprised a Globe editorial would miss that distinction. What a specious and dishonest argument.

Mayor Menino did not reference the President in stating his judgment about this restaurant. It's his own reasoning. What kind of name is Chick-fil-A anyway? Anyway Mayor Menino's position is not political. It is a matter above what your political persuasion happens to be. It is a matter of government's position on the status of legality of gay marriage in this State. I do agree operationally that one has to break the law before restricting the license to operate. So let Mr. Cathy build his restaurant and let him know he has to follow the law in terms of who he employs or serves. It may even turn out to be a blow for freedom if a gay couple applies for work and asserts their relationship to receive benefits offered or come in as customers. Mr. Cathy could then learn directly that his economic well being depends on being more broad minded and could be valuable de-conditioning.

What the rest of the state seems to understand that the citizens of Boston do not; is that they re-elected this power hungry, stupid man as their mayor only because of what he promises to do for them, and not at all for the good of the city. Personally, the mayor cares only to serve himself, and not the city of Boston. Enough! He should never be allowed to serve in any capacity as a representative, he doesn't have the intelligence it takes to make decisions he is not able to. Again, if you keep re-electing people like him Ya get what Ya deserve!!!!!

Who does Menino think he is to dictate what businesses operate in the city. It is not his city, though the citizens have given him that impression by repeatedly re-electing him.

This guy said he is against gay marriage, not gays. I would go out on a limb and say he is probably against abortions and believes that people should be married before they have children. These are his religious beliefs and cannot legally subject him to persecution. Otherwise all you first amendment zealots are being hypocritical. Until he starts imposing these views on his customers or discriminating against them for not sharing their beliefs, it is none of Menino or anyone else's business. I hope he sues if Menino blocks him...

@chrissie78: you're dead wrong. He's openly anti-gay, referring to LGBT* community as "Big Gay" and regularly talking about how they're "risking God's wrath by defying his will." The chain has a history of discriminating against gay employees and customers. Menino is right about this one.

Please show me the evidence that "The chain has a history of discriminating against gay employees and customers." You can't just presume that because of the president's views, they will in fact discriminate. That's a big leap. There is not discrimination and until there is, Menino's idiotic stance is illegal.

@esfsdfsdf - Please show me the evidence that "The chain has a history of discriminating against gay employees and customers." You can't just presume that because of the president's views, they will in fact discriminate. That's a big leap. There is not discrimination and until there is, Menino's idiotic stance is illegal.

very ironic that dems/libs go off a comment like this one and make it personal yet do not think a corporation is an entity that can give political contributions (Citizens United)

I agree with the Globe. Let them build. That will give the LGBT community a place to picket management that's a throwback, and the rest of us who believe in human rights to avoid eating there.

He thinks he's exactly what he is -- the elected mayor of the city. This is exactly the kind of matter elected officials can decide. We don't run government by referendum. I too disagree with the mayor on this one, but I think he's within his rights. If not, the chicken place can sue.

I should have added that although I don't know anything about employment discrimination by Chick-fil-a, the company raises large amounts of money for anti-gay causes. I believe it was around $2 million last year. If you give them money, be aware of what you're supporting.

Here's a start: http://equalitymatters.org/factcheck/201207020001 -- you might want to also to look into them firing employees for refusing to pray.

Here's the Forbes article I was looking for. Funny, many of the old articles on ch-fil-a discrimination have been buried by the new controversy. http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html

Not only has chick-fil-a donated millions to anti-gay (not just anti-gay marriage) groups like Focus on The Family and Exodus International, they've been the subject of multiple employment discrimination suits. They are an openly Christian company (their corporate mission is "to glorify god") and they reflect it in their hiring. For example, they frown on unmarried employees and ask people who apply for an operator license to disclose marital status, number of dependents and involvement in "community, civic, social, church and/or professional organizations.". See http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html

And then there's this: http://unfollowingjesus.com/pictures/chick-fil-a-is-hiring/

For this reason--and the fact that we don't need another junk food purveyor adding to an obesity problem spiraling out of control--they should be barred. Issues like this boil down to the simple fact that people should be allowed to live their personal lives in any manner they see fit--as long as they are not impinging on the rights of others. Too many on the right--who vociferously call for government to get out their lives (except when government benefits them)--hypocritically turn to government to deny basic rights to those who choose same-sex partners. Menino has the right idea.

Did they run out of Kool Aid today? Someone at the editorial board actual though this through? I have been a home subscriber for over 20 years, I didn't see any headlines this morning mentioning pigs flying or hell freezing over!!! For once a great editorial. I guess even a broken watch is accurate twice a day!

There's at least one case of a gay couple being asked to leave, but there's too much Google noise at the moment.

Here's the Forbes article on employment discrimination. In fairness, they won't hire straight unmarried people, either. It's funny how many of the old articles on chick-fil-a discrimination have been buried by the new controversy. http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html

Except that those beliefs extend into hiring. They get around Federal law by claiming all stores are franchises. It's still discrimination.