Chick-Fil-A customers turn out for 'Fan Appreciation Day' - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Supporters of Chick-fil-A are planning to eat at restaurants in the chicken chain Wednesday as the company continues to be criticized for an executive's comments about gay marriage.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared today national "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."

Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy told the Baptist Press last month that the Atlanta-based company was "guilty as charged" for backing "the biblical definition of a family." That unleashed a torrent of criticism from gay rights groups and others, who have called for boycotts and efforts to block the chain from opening new stores.

Opponents of the company's stance are planning "Kiss Mor Chiks" for Friday, when they are encouraging people of the same sex to show up at Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country and kiss each other.

In central Indiana, WTHR found some long lines at area Chick-Fil-A restaurants. Several people WTHR spoke with at the Southport restaurant turned up to show their support not only because they're fans of the food but because they support Cathy's stance on traditional marriage.

Noreen Feller of Southport said she was there "to support the franchise and what they stand for."

"The owner of the whole company was just expressing his personal belief and they're making a big flap out of it so we'll take exception to it, too," said her husband, Keith Feller. "We're Christians and we believe the man has a right to voice his opinion, no matter what it is."

Heidi Nordhoff was there to show her support of "traditional marriage. Chick-Fil-A is right to express their opinion about traditional marriage."

Nordhoff said it was important to "show support for Chick-Fil-A and traditional marriage because we hear a lot of rhetoric about a lot of other people's opinions, about the gay community and their opinions, and we have a right to show support for the opinions that we believe in, too."

"I'm here to support Chick-Fil-A and their founders," said Genevieve Gray, Greenwood, "and the freedom of speech we have and also for their views of his statement - what he believes and I believe...marriage is between one woman and one man."

Gray said she was "rejoicing that so many are coming out - this is the people speaking and supporting it."