Gay rights activists and backers of same-sex marriage held a nationwide "kiss-in" at neighborhood Chick-fil-A restaurants on Friday to protest the fast-food chain president's opposition to homosexual unions.
National Same Sex Kiss Day was a reaction to comments last month from Dan Cathy, who said he supported "the biblical definition of the family unit" and that backers of gay marriage were "arrogant." A foundation started by Cathy’s family has lobbied anti-marriage equality laws across the country.
On Wednesday, patrons showed their support of Cathy at a Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day event organized by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, now a cable television show host.
Same sex couple Tyler Savage and Larry Farris kissed outside the Chick-fil-A restaurant near North Central Expressway and Southwestern Boulevard. “I will not tell everyone to never eat at Chick-fil-A again, because that’s the wrong thing to say. But, I will never eat at Chick-fil-A again,” said Savage.
Friday’s “kiss in” drew a counter protest from one participant. “I have my right as a Christian to protest their (supporters of National Same Sex Kiss Day) protest,” Mick Garr said, holding a sign that read “FREE SPEECH.”