Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is coming to the defense of Chik-fil-A as the embattled fast food franchise fends off criticism for its president's stance against gay marriage. Fresh from lunch at a Chick-fil-A Saturday in North Carolina, the prospective Republican vice presidential candidate called elected officials' public objections to the Christian-owned fast food chain "chilling."

Few showed up at Minnesota's Chick-fil-A fast-food restaurants for a "kiss-in" event Friday that was planned to take place at outlets nationwide, KARE 11 reports. Restaurant President Dan Cathy opposes gay marriage and the event was designed as a protest to his recent comments in support of the "Biblical" definition of marriage.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., grabbed a little lunch and filmed a video message on "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" to show her support for restaurant president Dan Cathy, who has publicly opposed gay marriage.

Gay marriage advocates, fresh from winning a fight over a constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex unions, is already planning for what they say is the next logical step. State law still does not allow for gay marriage. They aim to change that.

The latest: a national group working to ban gay marriage has asked Minnesota's largest corporations to remain neutral on the issue. Meanwhile, the debate is dividing the state's clergy, and Rep. Keith Ellison makes his prediction on the marriage amendment.

Internet celebrity Zach Wahls, the 21-year-old son of an Iowa same-sex couple, has been campaigning in Minnesota this week against the state ballot measure that would effectively ban gay marriage. Meanwhile, the pro-measure group Minnesota for Marriage has released a video that argues children of same-sex couples are more vulnerable than those raised by a mother and father.

Taking a stand against the Catholic Church's stance on gay marriage, a fifth grade teacher in Moorhead is leaving her position as a fifth grade teacher at St. Joseph’s Catholic School. Trish Cameron said in a letter to parents that she was told she would not be offered a contract for the next school year because of her response to a question on a self-evaluation.