Boston mayor Thomas Menino issued a candid statement last week expressing his distaste for the possibility that the controversial fast-food chain Chick-fil-A might open up a branch in Beantown.

"Chick-fil-A doesn't belong in Boston," said Menino. "You can't have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population. We're an open city, we're a city that's at the forefront of inclusion."

Dan Cathy, president and COO of the Atlanta-based company's president, Dan Cathy, incurred the wrath of many when he told the Baptist Press recently that Chick-fil-A was "guilty as charged" in their opposition to same-sex marriage.

Chick-fil-A is reportedly hoping to open a store in Boston, right across the street from City Hall and steps away from the city's iconic Freedom Trail. "That's the Freedom Trail," Menino told the Boston Herald. "That's where it all started right here. And we're not going to have a company, Chick-fil-A or whatever the hell the name is, on our Freedom Trail."

The mayor vowed to make it "very difficult" for Chick-fil-A to obtain the licenses necessary to open an establishment in Boston.

Meanwhile, the Jim Henson Company has also made it clear that they are no longer interested in doing business with Chick-fil-A.

"The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors," the company said in a statement on its Facebook page. "Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD."

Chick-fil-A recently began including Jim Henson's Creature Shop toys in their Kid's Meals, and will presumably continue to do so until August 18th.

Elsewhere, activists have launched a call for a National Same-Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A to take place on August 3rd. You can learn more on the initiative's facebook page.

UPDATE: On the opposite end of the spectrum, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is calling for a Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day: "The goal is simple: Let's affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1."

[image Chick-fil-A]