Void, an Italian restaurant based in Chicago, has marked Plide Month. It features a pop-up parody targeting Chick-fil-A, a fast food chain that has long been criticised for its anti-LGBTQ initiative and past support from the organization.
“Chick-Feel-Gay” appeared on June 22nd at 2937 N. Milwaukee Street in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood for just one day.
On the menu there was a version of the famous Chick Phil fried chicken sandwich by chef and co-owner Dani Kaplan, along with waffle fries, dipping sauce and chicken nuggets.
For dessert, the team offered vanilla-flavored rainbow cake slices – shaped like a pride flag of progress, topped with buttercream frosting and rainbow sprinkles.
The Chick-Feel-Gay pop-up featured a styled rainbow logo to mimic Chick-Fil-A’s signature script.
“We took a sandwich and ruled out bias,” Void wrote on Instagram post Advertisement of the event. “you’re welcome.”
The pop-up has pledged to donate 20% of its revenue to the Brave Space Alliance, a black and trans-led LGBTQ center on Chicago’s Southside. This faces Chick-Fil-A’s implicit JAB, facing backlash against past donations to anti-LGBTQ groups, and the founder’s claim that it is a “God’s criticism” of same-sex marriage.
Chick-Fil-A recently announced plans to open another location in Chicago. According to Chicago Eaterthe chain will take over Bonnesante Health Foods, a decades-old business that has served the city’s liberal Hyde Park neighborhood, home to the University of Chicago for the past 25 years. The plan reportedly disrupted some residents. Residents are disappointed to see health food stores being replaced by fried chicken chains.
The proposed Chickfill A will also occupy a storefront just below the headquarters of the Brave Space Alliance. This sets up a potential conflict between fast food chains known for their anti-LGBTQ reputations and pro-transgender organizations providing HIV testing, medical referrals, counseling, interim housing, food, and support services for LGBTQ people.
“For me, it’s about strengthening that businesses aren’t doing their homework,” said Channyn Lynne Parker, CEO of Brave Space. Chicago Eater.
Parker said he was surprised by Chick-Fil-A’s plans and concerns that having a restaurant downstairs and the implicit message that its presence sends to LGBTQ people could undermine their ability to connect with their clients.
“We’re more than office space, and we’re literally a lifeline for community members on the south side of Chicago,” Parker said.
A Chick-Fil-A spokesman said Chicago Eater The new restaurant is expected to create jobs for between 80 and 120 people.
Parker hopes Chick-fil-A will develop relationships with neighbors like the Brave Space Alliance. They would like to hire them from within the community or hope that the group will provide staff with LGBTQ cultural competency training and “learning from historically hurtful communities.”
However, she emphasized that if restaurants really want to be part of the community, they need to take concrete steps to provide a brave space alliance to provide a brave space alliance.
“Action speaks more eloquent than words,” she said.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
