This Thursday, July 19, 2012 photo shows a Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant in Atlanta. Gay rights advocates were surprised Thursday that the president of the Atlanta-based chain has taken a public position against same-sex marriage. Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy said this week that his privately owned company is "guilty as charged" in support of what he called the biblical definition of the family unit. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

All of a sudden, biting into a fried chicken sandwich has become a political statement.

The latest uproar in the nation's culture wars began earlier this month when Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy said he was against same-sex marriage.

The Cathy family has never hid from its Southern Baptist views, closing its restaurants on Sundays.

But Cathy's statement has fired up gay rights groups, who are calling for a boycott.

City leaders in Boston and Chicago say the restaurant is not welcome there and the Jim Henson Company has yanked its Muppet toys from kids' meals.

Meanwhile, Chick-fil-A supporters have answered emphatically.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has declared Wednesday "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" and the Rev. Billy Graham says he plans to eat there next week.