"Kiss-in" protests at Chick-Fil-A

Jim Fortier, left, and Mark Toomajian, kiss as they join about two dozen members of gay rights groups and others protesting outside the Decatur, Ga., Chick-fil-A restaurant Friday, Aug. 3, 2012.

Gay rights activists were kissing at Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country Friday, just days after the company set a sales record when customers flocked to the restaurants to show support for the fast-food chain president's opposition to same-sex marriage.

Sarah Dobbs, left, kisses her partner of nine years, Chris Neil, right, as she holds 4-month-old Cash Neil-Dobbs, during National Same Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A.

The flap began last month when Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy told a religious publication that the company backed "the Biblical definition of a family," and later said: "I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.'"

The statement infuriated same-sex marriage supporters, who planned the so-called "kiss-in" protests. "We just feel like Dan Cathy is using his position to spread an intolerant message," Dobbs said.

To counter Friday's planned demonstrations, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister and Fox News talk show host, declared Wednesday "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," calling on opponents of same-sex marriage to patronize a Chick-Fil-A. The call drew long lines and record sales.

Michael Hackbart, left, and his partner, Arturo Rodriguez, both of Fairfield, Calif., kiss outside of the Chick-Fil-A in Fairfield on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012.

Herndon Graddick, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said in a statement, "Without question, Dan Cathy has every right to voice his opinions and beliefs. But he should meet and get to know the people that he's speaking out against - the people who are harmed by his company's multi-million dollar donations to anti-gay hate groups working to hurt everyday LGBT Americans and break apart loving families."

Brett Weir, right, and Nick Phillips kiss outside of the Chick-Fil-A on the California Polytechnic State University campus Friday, Aug. 3, 2012 in San Luis Obispo, Calif., as about two dozen members of local gay rights groups and their supporters protest the fast food chain owner's opposition to gay marriage.

Tascha Madaffari, left, with her children William and Emerson, front, join gay rights supporters Laura Whitman and Taylor Pasqualetti, right, for a picnic outside the Decatur, Ga., Chick-fil-A restaurant Friday, Aug. 3, 2012.

Julie Romano, an organizer at the Decatur, Ga., store, opposes Cathy's stance. "As my sign said, Jesus said nothing about homosexuality," said Romano. "And Christianity is about loving people."

Nick Tomecek,AP Photo/Northwest Florida Daily News

Gay marriage supporters (from left) Emmie Hesley, Cathy Dear and Amy Paffenroth hold signs in front of a Chick-fil-A in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

According to Equality Florida, Chick-Fil-A has donated at least $5 million to organizations whose agenda, the group says, is "to dehumanize LGBT people and to pass laws that treat us as second-class citizens." The recipients of Chick-Fil-A donations include Exodus International (which advocates "ex-gay" reparative therapy), and two organizations - the American Family Association and the Family Research Council - that are designated as "hate groups" by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Ruben Garcia, left, and Alan Estes Jr., a married couple, kiss outside of the Chick-Fil-A on the California Polytechnic State University campus Friday, Aug. 3, 2012 in San Luis Obispo, Calif., as about two dozen members of local gay rights groups and their supporters protest the fast food chain owner's opposition to gay marriage. Gay rights activists kissed at Chick-fil-A stores across the U.S. on Friday, just days after the company set a sales record when customers flocked to the restaurants to show support for the fast-food chain president's opposition to gay marriage.

AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Mark Weber

Hanna Phillips, left, and Amy Pickle kiss outside a Chick-fil-A in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012. Gay rights activists kissed at Chick-fil-A stores across the U.S. on Friday, just days after the company set a sales record when customers flocked to the restaurants to show support for the fast-food chain president's opposition to gay marriage.

Gay rights groups and others protest outside the Decatur, Ga., Chick-fil-A restaurant Friday, Aug. 3, 2012. Gay rights activists plan kiss demonstrations at Chick-fil-A stores Friday, just days after the company set a sales record when customers flocked to the restaurants to show support for the fast-food chain owner's opposition to gay marriage.

AP Photo/The Birmingham News, Hal Yeager

Mia Finterman and Gwendolyn Griffin, of Birmingham, Ala., kiss as they join several dozen people at Chick-fil-A on Montclair Road Friday Aug. 3, 2012 in Birmingham, for a national same-sex kiss day to protest Chick-fil-A executive Dan Cathy, who was quoted as supporting the traditional family unit. Mia, who is heterosexual, came to support her gay friends.

Graffiti was painted on the exterior wall of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Torrance, Calif. on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012.

Same-sex couples kiss outside a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Fresno, Calif. Friday, Aug. 3, 2012. Gay rights activists kissed at Chick-fil-A stores across the U.S. on Friday, just days after the company set a sales record when customers flocked to the restaurants to show support for the fast-food chain president's opposition to gay marriage.

Savanah Owen joins several dozen people at Chick-fil-A on Montclair Road Friday Aug. 3, 2012 in Birmingham, Ala., for a national same-sex kiss day to protest Chick-fil-A executive Dan Cathy, who was quoted as supporting the traditional family unit.

Miguel Martinez, left, kisses his partner of five years, Sergio Andrade, during National Same Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A on Richmond Avenue in support for love, equality, and the real definition of family Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, in Houston. Andrade said that they want to have the freedom to go down to city hall and get married with family and friends instead of traveling to another state.