Some Starbucks locations have been criticized for not allowing LGBTQ+ pride decorations in their stores during Pride Month. This has sparked backlash, with people expressing their disappointment in the company’s lack of support.
Boycotts Affect Business
In recent years, there has been a growing skepticism towards corporations that claim allyship during Pride Month but backtrack when faced with right-wing criticism.
Bud Light and certain Target stores faced similar boycotts and scaled back their support for Pride after negative feedback from conservative consumers affected their businesses.
No Pride In Certain Areas
Starbucks has now become the target of public scrutiny. Some TikTok users have called out Starbucks management for inexplicably neglecting to put up Pride decorations in certain locations.
While some stores have traditionally adorned their cafes with various Pride flags, there have been instances where employees either failed to put them up or even taken them down after they were already displayed.
In one TikTok video shared by Starbucks Workers United, it was revealed that at a specific Starbucks location, the Pride flags were stored away in the employee bathroom instead of being put up. This store had previously decorated for Pride Month for at least the past five years but made no effort to do so in 2023.
Flags Taken Down
Management cited a lack of a ladder as the reason for not hanging the flags, but their inaction and failure to find a solution have been criticized. In another location, someone intentionally took down Pride flags that were already displayed.
A customer who purchased a drink to show support for the LGBTQ+ community even returned their drink in response to this act.
A Contradiction
The actions of these individual Starbucks locations contradict the company’s public statements and supposed support for Pride. On Starbucks’ official website, they claim to have supported the LGBTQ+ community since 1996, releasing Pride-themed merchandise and drinks.
However, the recent incidents raise questions about the sincerity of their support.
Reaffirming Commitment
In response to the allegations and backlash, Starbucks issued a statement to Distractify, attempting to reaffirm their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.
The company stated that there had been no change in their policy regarding Pride Month support and encouraged store leaders to celebrate with their communities. They expressed concern over false information being spread and emphasized their dedication to inclusive store environments, company culture, and partner benefits.
Alignment of All Stores
Starbucks assured that they plan to continue their year-round support for the LGBTQ+ community. They also acknowledged the need to address any discrepancies between their guidance and the actions of individual stores, indicating that they are working to ensure all stores align with their longstanding commitment.
This may involve addressing cases where stores have neglected or rejected decorating for Pride Month.
The post Starbucks Criticized for Not Displaying LGBTQ+ Pride Flags In Some Stores first appeared on Wealthy Living.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / PitukTV. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: TikTok