Inside Toronto’s first Chick-fil-A franchise, a crowd of excited customers waits for spicy chicken sandwiches and nuggets while a DJ plays dance music in the corner.

“Hi Toronto, it’s our pleasure to serve you,” reads a sign on the wall closest to the pavement, where outside someone has written in colourful sidewalk chalk: “Your money supports hate.”

On Friday, outside the restaurant near Yonge and Bloor Sts., a long line of customers snaked around Hayden St., greeted by a crowd of protesters with rainbow flags and signs reading “cluck-off” at the grand opening of the controversial U.S. chicken restaurant.

Protests were organized by both The 519, an LGBTQ advocacy group, and Liberation TO, an animal rights organization, to condemn the opening as they say the company has a history of supporting anti-LGBTQ causes.

“We just want to make the population of Toronto aware of where their money is going if they decide to support this establishment,” said protester Tash Riot.

Helena Poison added they came out “to be visibly queer and show our support.”

They hope to open the eyes of the people in line.

“I’d like to think that a lot of the people don’t know (about the company’s history),” Poison said.

“And if they do, that’s a choice they’re making. Maybe we’ve changed their mind today.”

The chicken empire is owned by the Cathy family, a billionaire evangelical Southern Baptist clan, which attracted plenty of attention in 2012 when its president, Dan Cathy, said he believes in the “the biblical definition of the family unit” and said those who “have the audacity to define what marriage is about” were “inviting God’s judgment on our nation.”

When the U.S. Supreme Court chose to support same-sex marriages a year later, Cathy posted on Twitter that the “founding fathers would be ashamed of our generation” and pronounced it a “sad day for our nation.”

The company’s charitable foundation has also donated millions to anti-LGBTQ organizations, according to multiple U.S. media reports.

The chain plans to open 15 locations in the Greater Toronto Area in the next five years. There’s currently only one other Canadian location, at the Calgary International Airport.

“We respect people’s right to share their opinions and want all Torontonians to know they are welcome at Chick-fil-A Yonge & Bloor. Our focus is on offering a welcoming and respectful environment for our guests and team members, and we encourage people to give us a try,” read a statement emailed to the Star from Wilson Yang, operator at Chick-fil-A’s Toronto location.

A few counterprotesters showed up at Friday’s grand opening holding homophobic signs.

Controversial Evangelical pastor Rev. Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College and a vocal opponent same-sex marriage, came down to support the chain.

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“I’m all for freedom,” he told reporters outside.

“The founder of this great restaurant chain, the third largest in America, he supports many Christian charities and because he supports Christian charities the bullies come out.”

But others in line said they were there for the chicken.

“I’m here because the food is good,” said Hanan Mohamed, sipping a frozen lemonade.

“Everyone has their own views and we should be able to eat what we want.”

Mohamed has eaten at the franchise in several U.S. cities, including Atlanta where it’s based. She arrived around 9 a..m. and stood in line for about an hour and a half, “but it was worth it.”

She said she disagrees with the company’s stance on LGBTQ issues, but said only a bad customer service experience would make her not want to eat there.

“I love chicken,” added Sam Bersam, waiting in line around the corner.

“To be honest, I’m with them,” he said of the company. “They have the right to open wherever they want.”

At one point on Friday, protesters lay on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant for a “die in,” and chanting “Chick-fil-A go away, homo vegans here to stay,” while a line of police officers stood on Yonge St. keeping watch.

Protester Rolyn Chambers got into a heated discussion with a Chick-fil-A supporter.

“How can I be calm when my rights are at risk?” he asked. “It’s about the money they give, that’s the point.”

Chambers came with a sign he said was inspired by a Seinfeld episode.

“Baaaad chicken” read the sign.

“Don’t eat hate.”