INDIANAPOLIS -
A national show of support was staged at Chick-Fil-A Restaurants across the country Wednesday and Hoosiers came out by the thousands to express their support with their money and voices.
Chick-Fil-A and its president, Dan Cathy, recently came under fire when the owner said he was opposed to gay marriage.
In the past few weeks, those opposed to what Cathy said encouraged people to boycott the restaurant and get their chicken from one of Chick-Fil-A's competitors.
Those who support what the restaurant chain's president said dished out a heaping portion of support at Chick-Fil-A locations across Indianapolis.
"These are our fans. They're here to show appreciation to Chick-Fil-A," said David Stuckey the marketing manager at the Southport location.
"We feel that America is a free country and each and every person in this country has a right to their opinion," added Janet York from Noblesville.
"We're Christians and we believe that the man has a right to voice his opinion, no matter what it is," said customer Noreen Feller.
"He was just answering a question and stating his beliefs and I think that has turned into a huge snowball of unnecessary hate and lack of love," added Ben Ashley from Noblesville.
College students across the country, though, have said it's Chick-Fil-A spreading the hate. Online petitions from students at Ball State University and IUPUI, just to name a few, have been created on the website Change.org, demanding the restaurant be removed from their school's food courts.
"I did sign it when I was asked and I do believe that there should be equal rights and nobody should ever be demeaned just because of their sexual background," said IUPUI student Joshio Sandoval. "I believe college students are standing up for what they believe and they're going for what they believe is right in their heart."
"It shows that we are grown up and can make grown-up decisions," said another student Austin Grismore.
But not everyone wanted to sign the petition.
"I wouldn't be interested. I think he's entitled to his own opinion, still," said IUPUI student Steven Scott of Chick-Fil-A's president.
The opinions, though, have been strong on both sides of the controversy. Neither side seems to be backing down.
Several groups are still calling for a boycott of Chick-Fil-A for the entire month of August. Others have encouraged same-sex couples to go to Chick-Fil-A locations this Friday and openly express their affection for each other before ordering.
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