Starbucks Workers United says the coffee chain is failing its LGBTQ employees and customers by removing pride-themed store decorations.
The union says it has received reports from all around the country of Starbucks employees being ordered to take down decorations celebrating Pride Month. According to the union, Starbucks sees some of the pride displays as safety concerns after similar displays in Target stores led to damage and angry customers.
One employee said his manager told him Starbucks wanted more uniformity in its stores and asked to approve any pride displays there.
Starbucks said in a statement, “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 has presented itself as a progressive company for years, selling LGBTQ-themed merchandise in its online store. The company offers health benefits to same-sex couples and health coverage for sex-reassignment surgery. The company also just released a commercial supporting transgender people in India.
This year’s Pride Month comes amid LGBTQ issues. Both Target and Bud Light’s embracing of LGBTQ messaging caused a firestorm in conservative circles and led to a massive drop in the store’s market value and beer sales.
