Chick-Fil-A controversy sparks debate - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

Dennis Garner is president of Central Alabama Pride. A gay rights group.

Garner, a homosexual, hasn't been inside a Chick-fil-A in more than a year

"They have every right to believe what they believe and to say what they believe and we have every right not to put our money there to support them," says Garner.

Garner, and others in the gay and lesbian community are taking a stand against Chick-fil-A for what they call intolerance, for Chick-fil-A's stance on gay marriage.

Garner says he is a Christian.

"If you're a Christian, having Christ in your heart has nothing to do with whether you're gay or not," Garner says.

Despite the backlash, business is good. Drive thru lines are packed.

Timothy George, dean of the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University says, the issue at hand stems from the First Amendment.

"It means freedom also to express your religious views, your religiously motivated views in the public square," says George. "I also believe people have the right to disagree with him and to do that publicly."

Ultimately, both sides say that it's important to be civil in this debate.

"You got to stand for what you believe in, if that's what they believe in then let them stand for it," says Garner.

George says, "I'd rather appeal to our tradition of civility and liberty, where we can speak about public issues, hopefully in a way that isn't filled with hate and venom and I haven't sensed any of that in the comments that were publicly made by Mr. Cathy."