Amid the conservative pushback against major corporations’ attempts to embrace the LGBTQ+ community, it wouldn’t be surprising if other companies hedged back from celebrating Pride Month in favor of supporting their bottom lines instead.
But as rumors abound concerning warnings about and removals of Pride décor at some of their locations, Starbucks rebutted those claims, calling it misinformation.
“There has been no change to any policy on this matter and we continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities, including for U.S. Pride month in June,” Starbucks spokesperson Andrew Trull said in a statement, according to NBC News.
“We’re deeply concerned by false information that is being spread especially as it relates to our inclusive store environments, our company culture, and the benefits we offer our partners,” he added.
The reports have come from Starbucks Workers United, the union that represents the company’s employees, and they have not relented in their allegations, despite the company’s statement to the contrary.
The union maintains that 2023 is a different atmosphere in Starbucks stores, and that workers have not been allowed to display Pride Month decorations and that, in some cases, had decorations actually taken down.
“This is contrary to previous years when workers were allowed, and even encouraged, to put up pride decorations without incident,” they said in a statement posted to Twitter on Tuesday.
The union also alleged that Starbucks has launched an “anti-union campaign to intimidate workers and make them feel unwelcome in their own workplace.”
“Starbucks claims to be a true ally but they refuse to stand up for workers, especially during a time when LGBTQIA+ people are under attack,” they added.
Recent conservative boycotts and, in some cases, outright threats, have led to both fiscal and physical concerns for leading American corporations like Target and Anheuser-Busch.
Target locations in at least five states were forced to evacuate due to bomb threats that referenced the Pride Month merchandise on sale, while sales of Bud Light have suffered a two-month dip after the brand engaged in an online promotion that involved transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Related
