BY: Jasmine Franklin
Published 3 months ago
In a city known for bold flavors and even bolder statements, one Chicago restaurant is serving protest by the bite. During Pride Month, Void, an Italian-American spot in the city’s Avondale neighborhood, introduced the “Chick-Feel-Gay Sandwich.” The sandwich is a direct and delicious call-out of Chick-fil-A’s long-criticized stance on LGBTQIA+ rights.
The sandwich doesn’t just challenge anti-queer rhetoric. It channels community pride, raises funds for grassroots support, and sends a clear message: real allyship shows up and tastes great in the process.
The Story Behind the Chick-Feel-Gay Sandwich
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Void created the Chick-Feel-Gay Sandwich as a bold act of solidarity. The fried chicken sandwich came stacked with a crispy chicken breast, a blend of herbs and spices, a buttery toasted potato bun, and dill pickle chips. Void served the sandwich with waffle fries and Chick-feel-gay sauce. It made its debut during Void’s limited-time “Chick-Feel-Gay” pop-up, which featured high-end spins on Chick-fil-A classics without the controversy.
The name has quickly gained traction across social media. Additionally, the restaurant is receiving praise for its cleverness and cultural bite.
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Void didn’t shy away from naming names. The pop-up directly challenged Chick-fil-A, a chain widely criticized for funding anti-LGBTQ+ causes and maintaining ties to conservative religious organizations.
Despite ongoing backlash, Chick-fil-A told Eater Chicago there are “misunderstandings” around its position on the queer community. Many remained skeptical. “The evil Chick-fil-A!” Celebrity Chef Art Smith once said to Eater Chicago, reflecting a sentiment still shared by many.
Supporting Brave Space Alliance and Building Community
Void’s Chick-Feel-Gay Sandwich wasn’t just about clever marketing. It was about action. For every sandwich sold during June, the restaurant donated a portion of the proceeds to Brave Space Alliance, a Black- and trans-led LGBTQ+ center on Chicago’s South Side. The nonprofit provides housing assistance, food security programs, and mutual aid for queer and trans people of color.
The nonprofit’s story took an unexpected twist earlier this year when Chick-fil-A announced a new location under the Brave Space Alliance. The decision alarmed many in the local community.
“For me, it reinforces that the corporation doesn’t do their homework,” Brave Space CEO Channyn Lynne Parker told Eater Chicago.
Like many queer residents, she felt blindsided. Chick-fil-A planted a location in the heart of a queer space. What message does that send? Void’s initiative became a rallying point for visibility, resistance, and support.
Food as Protest, Pride as Purpose
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The Chick-Feel-Gay Sandwich is more than a menu item. It is a joyful act of defiance and a reminder that protest can be flavorful, purposeful, and proudly queer. Void joins a long tradition of restaurants that use food as a tool for change. Years ago, Leghorn Chicken in Ukrainian Village made headlines for being queer-friendly and staying open on Sundays, a not-so-subtle dig at Chick-fil-A’s religious roots.
Void continues that legacy by serving a sandwich that speaks louder than corporate slogans. In a world where queer joy is often under attack, the Chick-Feel-Gay Sandwich proves that comfort food can still stir conversation and create change.
Would you order the Chick-Feel-Gay Sandwich? Share your thoughts on food as a form of protest in the comments.
