Mayor Tom Menino wasn’t shy when it came to his opinion about not allowing a fast food chain, whose president harbors values that clash with that of the top city officials, to make its mark in Boston.

In fact, he was very clear when he told the Boston Herald that Chick-Fil-A, criticized and roasted by most of the country in recent weeks for remarks about its staunch stance against same-sex marriage, is not welcome here in the Hub.

Menino said no way would he allow a chicken-patty-selling chain to root it’s claws into a city that values diversity and is accepting of all.

Boasting Boston’s bravery to set standards in the country when it comes to same-sex marriage and equality, Menino penned an open letter to Dan Cathy, the President of Chick-Fil-A, and the man behind the remarks that have set a fiery blaze of rage in the hearts of many—including The Muppets. 

The following is the full text from Menino, sent on July 20. The image was posted to Facebook and confirmed by officials from the Mayor’s office as legitimate.

“In recent days you said Chick-Fil-A opposes same-sex marriage and said that the generation that supports it has an “arrogant attitude.” Now—incredibly—your company says you are backing out of the same-sex marriage debate. I urge you to back out of your plans to locate in Boston. You called supporters of gay marriage “prideful.” Here in Boston, to borrow your own words, we are “guilty as charged.” We are mindful of pride for our support for same sex marriage and our work to expand freedom to all people. We are proud that our state and our city have led the way for the country on equal marriage rights. I was angry to learn  on the heels of your prejudiced statements about your search for a site to locate in Boston. There is no place for discrimination on Boston’s Freedom Trail and no place for your company alongside it. When Massachusetts became the first state in the country to recognize equal marriage rights, I personally stood on City Hall Plaza to greet same sex couples coming here to be married. It would be an insult to them and to our city’s long history of expanding freedom to have a Chick-Fil-A across the street from that spot.”