https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/chik-fil-a-toronto-opening-1.5273381
A controversial U.S. fast-food chain has opened in downtown Toronto to a long line of customers, but also to a group of outraged protesters.
Chick-fil-A Inc., which is known for both its fried chicken sandwiches and its ownership's religious beliefs, started serving up chicken dishes Friday morning. It's the first franchised location in Canada, opening five years after a Chick-fil-A started up at the Calgary airport before recently closing.
When the Toronto restaurant opened at 10:30 a.m. ET, customers streamed in as protesters chanted "shame" outside the front doors.
"We won't allow hateful rhetoric to be here," said Justin Khan, who works at The 519, an LGBTQ community centre in an area of Toronto known as the gay village, just a few blocks from the restaurant.
"The fact that Chick-fil-A is opening on the streets of Toronto is something that is quite alarming."
Khan went on to accuse the corporation of promoting "hate and discrimination" against the LGBTQ community.
Bloor and Yonge is probably one of the most prime retail locations in the city, it also happens to be the gateway to Toronto's gay village. Make of that what you will.Another fan who camped overnight said customers should be able to enjoy the restaurant's food without endorsing the ownership's beliefs.
"I do not agree with their ideology and the policies of the owners, but I'm not here to support the policy of the owner. I'm here to have a meal that I really enjoy," Tony Onder told CBC News.
Others in line said they were eagerly anticipating the opening and were not aware of the company's controversial history.
"I'm not fully informed on all that's going on. All I know is I like fried chicken," said Bilal Dawson.
And yes, there were certainly some people who knew exactly what Chic-fil-A's owners stand for:
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