Supporters Flood Fairfield Chick-Fil-A Amid Same-Sex Marriage Flap
FAIRFIELD (CBS 5) - The Bay Area's only Chick-fil-A restaurant ran out of food and closed early Wednesday, as the fast food chain remains mired in controversy over the CEO's opposition to same-sex marriage.
At the Fairfield location in Solano Mall, a line stretched out the door for much of the day. The restaurant, which was scheduled to stay open until 10 p.m., was forced to close in the early evening.
Chick-fil-A supporters across the country were eating at the chicken chain's 1,600 restaurants Wednesday, as the company continues to be criticized.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared Wednesday "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." Gay rights groups and others answered with calls for boycotts.
There was no shortage of traditional marriage supporters at the company's Fairfield chain Wednesday.
"I'm a Christian and I believe in Christ and I believe in the Bible, so I like to support business that do the same," said Amanda Quiralt.
"It's a first amendment right issue. He has his right to think and say whatever he likes," said Fairfield diner Jerry Pollard.
Many same sex-marriage supporters disagree, and have been staying away from the chain.
"Everybody should be able to live their life how they want to, happily, whichever way they seem is right for them," said Lucy Howard of Stockton.
On Twitter last week, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said he doesn't want the restaurant chain to come any closer to San Francisco than the Fairfield franchise.
Opponents of Cathy's stance have planned "Kiss Mor Chiks" for Friday, asking people of the same sex to show up at Chick-fil-A locations and kiss each other.
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