[h=1]Chick-fil-A 'Kiss in' protest small compared to Appreciation day[/h]
A week of debate over the issue of gay marriage ended Friday with a "Kiss Off" organized by gay rights activists at Chick-fil-A restaurants.
Couples sent in photos of themselves kissing at restaurants around the nation to various gay-rights websites. But the protests appeared to draw far fewer people than an event earlier this week in support of the chicken chain.
Huge crowds turned out Wednesday in a show of support for company President Dan Cathy, who ignited a national debate by publicly expressing his opposition to same-sex marriage. Critics have also said the company supports causes harmful to gays and lesbians.
The scene on Friday was much quieter at locations across the Southland.
At a Chick-fil-A in Torrance where vandals painted the words "Tastes Like Hate" on the side of the restaurant Thursday night, the "National Same-Sex Kiss Day" was off to a slow start.
A steady parade of cars made their way into the parking lot as diners strolled in and out of the restaurant. Some held signs that read "Jesus is the only answer." Many said they were there in support of Chick-fil-A and denounced the vandalism.
"It's a civil debate; it has nothing to do with defacing someone's property," said Alfonzo Rachel, 40, a Torrance resident who said he dines at the restaurant regularly.
Cole Donahoo, operator of the Torrance restaurant, declined to comment about Friday's vandalism.
"I'm just trying to operate a business," he said.
Donahoo said he did see a great turnout at the restaurant, at 182nd Street and Hawthorne Boulevard, for Wednesday's national "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day" event, championed by conservative talk show host Mike Huckabee.
Denise Spencer, who visited the restaurant Friday, said that she was sad to see the vandalism and that it hurt the message of tolerance that gay marriage proponents are pushing.
"The president of the company has the right to say what he feels, just like gays and lesbians do, but when you destroy someone's property ... it only creates negativity," Spencer said.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lan...otest-small-compared-to-appreciation-day.html
A week of debate over the issue of gay marriage ended Friday with a "Kiss Off" organized by gay rights activists at Chick-fil-A restaurants.
Couples sent in photos of themselves kissing at restaurants around the nation to various gay-rights websites. But the protests appeared to draw far fewer people than an event earlier this week in support of the chicken chain.
Huge crowds turned out Wednesday in a show of support for company President Dan Cathy, who ignited a national debate by publicly expressing his opposition to same-sex marriage. Critics have also said the company supports causes harmful to gays and lesbians.
The scene on Friday was much quieter at locations across the Southland.
At a Chick-fil-A in Torrance where vandals painted the words "Tastes Like Hate" on the side of the restaurant Thursday night, the "National Same-Sex Kiss Day" was off to a slow start.
A steady parade of cars made their way into the parking lot as diners strolled in and out of the restaurant. Some held signs that read "Jesus is the only answer." Many said they were there in support of Chick-fil-A and denounced the vandalism.
"It's a civil debate; it has nothing to do with defacing someone's property," said Alfonzo Rachel, 40, a Torrance resident who said he dines at the restaurant regularly.
Cole Donahoo, operator of the Torrance restaurant, declined to comment about Friday's vandalism.
"I'm just trying to operate a business," he said.
Donahoo said he did see a great turnout at the restaurant, at 182nd Street and Hawthorne Boulevard, for Wednesday's national "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day" event, championed by conservative talk show host Mike Huckabee.
Denise Spencer, who visited the restaurant Friday, said that she was sad to see the vandalism and that it hurt the message of tolerance that gay marriage proponents are pushing.
"The president of the company has the right to say what he feels, just like gays and lesbians do, but when you destroy someone's property ... it only creates negativity," Spencer said.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lan...otest-small-compared-to-appreciation-day.html