Same-sex marriage is still a hot-button issue, as recently discovered (as if he didn’t already know this) by restaurant eatery Chick-fil-A president and chief operating officer Dan Cathy. During an appearance on radio show “The Ken Coleman Show,” Cathy revealed that he is deeply committed to his Christian faith and opposes same-sex marriage. Cathy even went as far as to say those who are advocating for the enactment of laws that allow to for two people of the same-sex to marry are “inviting God’s judgement.” Cathy continued:”I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about.”

Prominent groups which support same-sex marriage have come out in full force against Cathy and Chick-fil-A, a private family owned business which operates mainly in the southern U.S. states. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) are asking that people donate the approximate cost of a Chick-fil-A meal to gay and lesbian rights as a protest to the beliefs espoused by Cathy. Others, namely Christian politicians such as Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, and Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska and one-time Republican Vice-President hopeful, are supporting the eatery and encouraged other supporters of the chain to make Wednesday Chick-fil-A Appreciation day.

Dan Cathy has a right to his opinion, and so do those who support same-sex marriage. People who choose not to spend their money with Chick-fil-A have every right to make their food purchases elsewhere.

As of yet, there is no national consistency in the laws that govern same-sex unions. Five states allow civil unions: Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Same sex marriage is only legal in six states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York. President Obama pnly came out in support of same sex marriage–saying that his views had been “evolving” on the issue–in May.

Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanual, former Chief of Staff to President Obama, has gone as far as to say that he doesn’t believe Chick-fil-A belongs in Chicago–all because Mr. Emanuel does support same sex marriage and disagrees with the views of Cathy. Luckily Mr. Emanual was reminded of the fact that having unpopular views does not bar one from being able to open a business, and Emanuel was forced to backtrack and clarify his statements by stating that even though he disagrees with Mr. Cathy the resources of the City of Chicago would not be used to keep Chick-fil-A from expanding in the Chicagoland area.

Whether you agree or disagree with Dan Cathy’s stance, he does have the constitutional right to have that stance towards same sex unions as long as he does not engage in discriminatory hiring practices or violate any laws in the way the company treats customers. Everyone else has the right to decide whether or not they want to eat at Chick-fil-A.