So, ah, Chick-fil-A supporters are declaring that the chicken chain has a right to free speech after its CEO declared opposition to the freedom of gays to marry.

(Scratches head. Are these the same people who say liberals should have never opposed the war in Iraq and instead “supported our troops?” Free speech? Hello?).

Anyway, the heartland's controversy pitting large Americans' ability to eat all the damn crap food they want against those who support gay rights has come to Los Angeles. And we're doing it like only L.A. can:

First, let's just point out this Hollywood take on the controversy, with John Goodman as a bear-like Colonel Sanders who is totally down with the two or three gay guys who would rather take their business to KFC for all their empty calorie needs.

(The irony here is that no self-respecting gay man would ever be caught dead hanging with Ma and Pa Midwesterner at Chick-fil-A, but still, there's a principle here).

Meanwhile, at a Northridge Chick-fil-A, a safe distance from West Hollywood, about a dozen flag-waving demonstrators supported the CEO's right to be a bigot. The event was part of “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day,'' an honor encouraged by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Protester Deborah Leigh told CBS Los Angeles:

We're about freedom of speech and think he was … targeted because he truthfully told his opinion on something.

Is gay love an expression of free speech? Just wondering.

Another protester said it would be “un-American” to ban Chick-fil-A because of its views because America is a “free country.” (So this “un-American” rule when it comes to let-them-be-free sentiment would apply to Christian conservatives who like to blockade abortion clinics, we assume).

Anyway, not to be outdone, opponents of Chick-fi-Gay gathered at a Hollywood outlet, much closer to the gay epicenter of L.A.

Let them eat … anything other than Chick-fil-A.

[Added at 3:46 p.m.]: And then there's this: The Abbey in West Hollywood, L.A.'s crown jewel of gay bars, is offering a Chick-For-Gay sandwich as an alternative to the crap they serve at that other place, according to LAist.

Go get yourself one. Now.

[With reporting from City News Service / @dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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