Mid-Southerners Defend Chicken Chain

(Memphis, TN)    The chicken usually has people lining up at Chick-fil-A restaurants, but today’s line was about something more passionate.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee asked people to support the chain.

The restaurant came under fire recently after the company president made a statement which some said denounced gay marriage.

 Now people have denounced Chick-fil-A, but a number of mid southerners stood up and backed them.

“We believe in traditional marriage that was instituted by god almighty, that’s the only way it is”, one man told News Channel 3.

“It’s discouraging, it’s such a divide”, said Will Batts. He is the executive director of the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center.   “The problem for the LGBT community is we’re not visible all the time. You can’t tell by looking at someone what their sexual orientation is.  You have employees at Chick-fil-A who are gay or lesbian”, said Batts.

 One group is organizing a kiss-in, where members of the lesbian, gay, bi, and transgendered community will come to Chick-fil-A this Friday night and kiss inside the restaurant to show their disapproval of the company’s management.  

Last week, one local chick fil a operator said that’s OK with him.

“You can come in and kiss , hold hands, doesn’t matter what your sexual orientation is, they’ll all be welcome with genuine hospitality like we extend everyday we’re open.”