NASHUA, N.H. (WHDH) -- There were long lines at Chick-fil-A restaurants Wednesday as customers came to show their support for the chain.

The chain has made headlines not because of its food, but because of the manager’s controversial stance on gay marriage.

The food court at the Pheasant Lane Mall was jammed. Hundreds stood in line, not just to get a sandwich, but to celebrate Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.

It was the same situation at the Burlington Mall and other malls across the area. The day was declared after the company CEO was criticized for his anti-gay marriage comments.

“I do believe in what he believes in, but I’m also here because of his right. He had a right to say that,” said Scott Aponte.

Aponte drove 35 miles and stood in line for almost an hour and a half to make his point.

“Everybody in line -- they were talking to each other. People from Virginia that happened to be up here. And it was incredible. Time went by really fast because of the people that were in line and what brought them here. It was neat, it really was,” Aponte said.

The political firestorm was partly fueled when Boston Mayor Tom Menino urged Chick-fil-A’s CEO to back out of a plan to open in Boston.

“I may not agree with him specifically on his stance on the matter but that’s almost irrelevant in the aspect of he has the freedom to say whatever he wants, and I agree with that,” said Charlene Dobson.

The manager of Chick-fil-A in Nashua, New Hampshire says he is going to donate sandwiches to an upcoming festival celebrating gay rights.