Активисты Ноттингэма объявили бойкот нового ресторана Chick-fil-A из-за исторических пожертвований антиЛГБТ организациям

Nottingham LGBTQ+ campaigners say they will boycott new restaurant The company claims it does not have a political agenda and says it treats all customers with honour, dignity and respect Campaigners say they would boycott an American fast food chain's planned Nottingham store over the company's historic donations to "anti-LGBTQ+ organisations". Some in the city's LGBTQ+ community have raised concerns about Chick-fil-A's plans to open in the city centre - but the American fried chicken company claims it does not have a political or social agenda. The chain has been operating in the US since the 1960s and has been opening stores across England since October 2025, with its first site in Leeds. However, the company has also received ongoing criticism over its chief exec's historical opposition to same-sex marriage and past donations to charities considered to hold anti-LGBTQ+ views. Local historian CJ DeBarra, whose work focuses on the experiences of LGBTQ+ people living in Nottingham, said Chick-fil-A's plans to open on Clumber Street are "concerning". "Just weeks ago, we welcomed a new Rainbow Quarter into Hockley and celebrated Notts Pride, so to see a company associated with anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment open in Nottingham is concerning," they said. "Chick-fil-A has been boycotted over reports that they have donated to anti-LGBTQ+ organisations. This is not just about food, but the company is actively supporting campaigns to remove our rights." In 2017, Chick-fil-A's charitable arm donated millions of dollars to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Paul Anderson Youth Home and the US Salvation Army - three organisations campaigners claim hold anti-LGBTQ+ views or policies. However, The Salvation Army said it opposed "any discrimination, marginalisation or persecution of any person," and since 2020, Chick-fil-A has exclusively donated to causes working to improve education and hunger. The company previously attempted to expand into the UK in 2019 and opened its first branch in Reading, but the store faced boycotts by LGBTQ+ activists, and its six-month lease was not extended. "I will be boycotting the franchise by choosing to spend my money elsewhere and encourage others who feel strongly to do the same thing," CJ added. The Pastel Project activist group, which recently spearheaded the creation of Nottingham's new LGBTQ+ Rainbow Quarter, said it wouldn't be "endorsing" a new Chick-fil-A store in the city. Sam Harvey, the organisation's director, said: "It is good to see it won’t be opening within the Rainbow Quarter as we want to work with businesses to make sure they are LGBTQ+ inclusive," Sam said. "It's easier to keep the area friendly if we don’t have these businesses homed in the area and with everything that’s going on, it's easier to speak to the smaller independent businesses as we can go directly to the staff. "With Chick-fil-A's reputation, it's not somewhere we'd be endorsing the community to visit or one we’d be visiting ourselves." Chick-fil-A wants to take over the Footasylum branch in Clumber Street and has asked Nottingham City Council for permission to install new signs. The company was founded in 1946 and has been run by the Cathy family since, with then chief exec Dan Cathy publicly opposing same-sex marriage and saying the company supported "the biblical definition of the family unit" in 2012. Chick-fil-A says it does not have a social or political agenda and claims to have never directly donated to anti-LGBT causes. The company also says it is a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion or creed. Chick-fil-A's historical Christian values also mean all branches are closed on Sunday, including those in the UK.