PQA: Flying Biscuit owner faces backlash for supporting Brian Kemp
Tom Dempsey
Flying Biscuit owner faces backlash for supporting Brian Kemp
The owner of several Atlanta restaurants – including one at what some consider the LGBTQ epicenter of the city – claims backlash over his financial support of Brian Kemp is “a misunderstanding.”
Joseph Hsiao (top photo, center) and his brother Matthew are co-owners of the Flying Biscuit locations in Candler Park and Midtown. According to Joseph Hsiao’s LinkedIn profile, they also own a J.R. Crickets in Mableton and Pisano’s Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen in Kennesaw. What Now Atlanta reportedthat the pair bought the Flip Burger Boutique in West Midtown in July.
On Wednesday, an image began circulating on social media of Hsiao eating lunch with Kemp, the Republican nominee for governor who supports anti-LGBTQ “religious freedom” bills. The image was posted on Kemp’s official Facebook page in 2015. Critics of such legislation point out that it would discriminate against LGBTQ people since Georgia offers no statewide protections covering sexual orientation or gender identity.
A search of Georgia campaign finance records shows that Hsiao – either under his name or that of the Candler Park Flying Biscuit – has donated $2,000 to Kemp’s campaign for governor. Some $500 was donated under the restaurant’s name in June 2017, $500 was donated under Hsiao’s name in May 2018 and $1,000 was donated under the restaurant’s name in July.
more...