The continued fallout over Chick-fil-A head Dan Cathy's anti-gay remarks continued to embroil Chicagoans for a third week that ended in two lawsuits and a standoff of between local restaurants in what some have jokingly named "the chicken wars."
Chicago Republicans hit Ald. Proco Joe Moreno with a formal complaint, alleging that the 1st Ward alderman abused his position when he vowed to block the opening of a Chick-fil-A in his ward because Cathy said his company was "guilty as charged" of opposing same-sex marriage.
The Chicago Republican Party announced the complaint at an Aug. 1 press conference at City Hall.
The complaint, filed with Attorney General Lisa Madigan and the Illinois Department of Human Rights argues that Moreno violated the Illinois Human Rights Act when he promised to deny Chick-fil-A a building permit. Moreno's declaration came in the wake of CEO Dan Cathy's statement that he was "guilty as charged" of opposing same-sex marriage and operated the company on "Biblical" principles.
"Not only has he used his power over zoning to punish someone with whom he disagrees politically," said Chris Cleveland, vice chairman of the Chicago Republican Party. "He has used government power to engage in overt religious discrimination against a person who merely expressed a sincerely held religious belief."
Republicans have also criticized Mayor Emanuel, who backed Moreno, but the Aug. 1 complaint only names the alderman.
The complaint asks Madigan to investigate the matter. A spokesperson for Madigan said her office was not yet commenting on the complaint.
Madigan has been supportive of LGBT causes in the past and recently filed to intervene in support of two lawsuits that seek marriage equality in the state.
Reporters hammered Cleveland and Chicago Republican Party Chairman Adam Robinson on the legal standing of the complaint, stating the complaint addressed Moreno's statements and not his actions.
Cleveland and Robinson said they believe that Moreno's statements are enough to constitute a violation of the act.
"The statement was a criminal action," said Robinson.