During Pride Month, The Void, a Chicago Italian restaurant, launched “Chick-Feel-Gay”—a satirical pop-up selling fried chicken sandwiches.
This playful jab at Chick-fil-A wasn’t just for laughs; it was a fundraiser for Brave Space Alliance, a vital Black and trans-led LGBTQ+ community organization.
Chef Dani Kaplan‘s “Chick-Feel-Gay” pop-up, held on June 22nd, offered fried chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, and even Progress Pride flag-inspired cake.
“We took the sandwich and left out the bigotry,” The Void declared on Instagram. Twenty percent of all proceeds went directly to Brave Space Alliance, located on Chicago’s South Side.
The initiative gained added relevance as Chick-fil-A recently announced plans to open a location in the same building as Brave Space Alliance, despite its long history of controversy over donations to anti-LGBTQ+ groups.
Channyn Lynne Parker, CEO of Brave Space Alliance, noted Chick-fil-A’s “doesn’t do their homework” regarding community sentiment.
This isn’t Chef Kaplan’s first “Chick-Feel-Gay” event, but this iteration particularly highlights how businesses can creatively challenge anti-LGBTQ+ stances while directly supporting the community.
