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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Chick-fil-A made headlines Wednesday, and the story had the entire nation talking.

It all started last month when the company's president, Dan Cathy, told a newspaper the restaurant chain was "guilty as charged" for backing "the biblical definition of a family."

That statement has since unleashed a torrent of criticism from gay rights groups and others.

In response, several groups, organizations and even cities have called for boycotts to block the chain from opening new stores around the nation.

On the flip side, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a baptist minister, declared Wednesday "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."

Southern Colorado residents lined up all day at the five restaurant locations in Colorado Springs in support of the company.

Many said they back Dan Cathy and his comments.

"I came out to support Chick-fil-A, someone who believes in God and the principals and values it says in the bible," Ashley Rasmussen, a Chick-fil-A supporter, said.

"We support what Chick-fil-A is doing, and we want to stand behind them in that," Bryce Rasmussen, a Chick-fil-A supporter, said.

Meanwhile gay rights groups, and many others said the restaurant chain is promoting inequality.

"One thing I think is interesting is that they are using what we want, equality for all the other issues we deal with," Charles Irwin, Executive Director of Colorado Springs Pride, said.

Irwin said if anything, the L.G.B.T. community wants Chick-fil-A's owners to know there are repercussions for supporting discrimination.

"Right now they might have a lot of support, but in the long run I think it will hurt this company as well as any other company that supports discrimination," he said.

Right or wrong, there is one thing most people agreed on, and that is freedom of speech.

"People love this country and moved to this country to believe what they want to believe," Rasmussen said.

"It is our right as Americans," Irwin said. "Freedom of speech to say 'I do not wish to spend money at this organization because they support discrimination with the way they spend their money.'"

Opponents of the company are now planning a "Kiss more chiks" day this Friday.

They are encouraging people of the same sex to kiss each other at one of the restaurants.

Chick-fil-A meantime released a statement that read:

"Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was not created by Chick-fil-A. We appreciate all of our customers and are glad to serve them at anytime. Our goal is simple: to provide great food, genuine hospitality and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."