Midtown business organizing Same-Sex Kiss Day at nearby Chick-fil-A

Wednesday’s Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, called on by former Arkansas governor and Fox News contributor Mike Huckabee, has drawn a huge response at many stores across metro Atlanta and beyond.

The customer support has come in the wake of fierce backlash from across the nation directed at Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A following recent comments made by its president in support of traditional marriage and against same-sex marriage.

A spokesperson reported that 93-year-old Rev. Billy Graham ate a Chick-fil-A lunch at his North Carolina home on Wednesday. Graham was among a list of high-profile leaders and groups supporting the Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day, which was not sponsored or created by the family owned and operated company that has 1,615 stores in 39 states.

Others contributing support Wednesday included former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, and Project 21, a conservative public policy group of African-Americans.

Now up next, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has organized the National Same-Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A restaurants to be staged across the country on Friday, Aug. 3. A Midtown company, Carma Productions, and its Gayborhood App, have announced that such an event will take place at the at 105 East Trinity Place in Decatur.

Founded in 2007 and located at 1116 West Peachtree Street, Carma Productions “is committed to LGBTQ community through the production and distribution of various publications and interactive media” according to its website. It works with The Atlanta Film Festival, For The Kid In All of Us, The Midtown Festival of the Arts, and W3 Lifestyles, among others.

There’s no word as to whether the push back from gay and lesbian groups will include a Same-Sex Kiss Day protest at the Colony Square Chick-fil-A location at 1197 Peachtree Street. But the recent Chick-fil-A controversy did draw a response from openly gay Atlanta City Councilman Alex Wan, whose 6th district includes Piedmont Park and portions of Midtown. 

In an interview with the GA Voice, Wan said:

“Of course, as a proud member of the LGBT community, I am incredibly disappointed in Dan Cathy’s [president of Chick-fil-A] position opposing marriage equality. And regardless of the fact that Chick-fil-A is based in Atlanta, that position is, to me, completely incompatible with the values of the City of Atlanta, ‘the city too busy to hate,’ and the key role we played in the civil rights movement,” Wan said.

“As the city council’s only openly gay member, I support boycotting patronizing the chain and would oppose their efforts to expand further within the city limits,” Wan said.

Do you agree with Councilman Wan?