Chick-fil-A supporters show appreciation

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Supporters of Chick-Fil-A are eating at restaurants in the chicken chain as the company continues to be criticized for an executive's comments about gay marriage.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared Wednesday national "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," so customers packed restaurants across the country to show their support, and Houston was no exception.

SkyEye HD was over a Chick-fil-A restaurant in southwest Houston around lunchtime and the crowd was flowing out into the parking lot, with cars nearly creating a traffic jam.

And for customers like Tiffany Reedy, the lunchtime trip came with a definite purpose.

"We came out here because we feel freedom of speech is not just for persons who speak rhetoric or whatever, but Christians have freedom of speech as well," Reedy said.

Reedy and her friend were among the many who specifically came to Chick-fil-A as part of "Appreciation Day," which was prompted after the private company's president voiced his support for backing the "biblical definition of family"

"I think this is wonderful that he feels that way and I do too, so I'm going to support him," customer Pam Swenson said.

At this Chick-fil-A in northwest Houston, the line stretched out the door, with workers handing out water to those waiting. The drive-through lines were long everywhere.

The people who run this particular Chick-fil-A say they had nothing to do with the appreciation day but were prepared for the crowds.

"We knew that the crowds were going to come and we wanted to be staffed and ready," Chick-fil-A marketing manager Nicole Nunnally said.

We did spot a few protesters at one Chick-fil-A. Nationwide, gay rights supporters are organizing "Kiss Mor Chiks," a separate same-sex kiss-in on Friday, though Houston's GLBT Political Caucus played down expectations.

"We're encouraging people to be respectful of the fact that franchise owners might not necessarily agree with the corporate policies of Chick-fil-A's leadership, and we're asking people to be respectful and not disruptive," said Noel Freeman, who heads the Houston GLBT Political Caucus.

No one yet knows about how many people plan to participate in the same-sex kiss-in the event. It's not being particularly organized by any group.

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