Groups to Boycott Starbucks Over Stances on Gay Rights, Guns
Separate boycotts criticize coffee chain's stances on national issues. What are your thoughts?
Some religious and political groups are urging Starbucks customers to grab their morning coffee elsewhere in light of the company's stance on gay marriage and its policy on guns.
USA Christian Ministries, a group boycotting Starbucks for its recent support of gay marriage in the state of Washington, said in a news release that the coffee chain's decision has angered Christians.
"Christians are upset with Starbucks for turning against God," Steven Andrew, president of USA Christian Ministries, said.
The group hopes that, with full support from Christians, Starbucks, which operates one location in Stratford, could lose up to 80 percent of its business.
Starbucks joined Microsoft and Nike in publicly supporting gay marriage in a statement last week, according to the Seattle Times. In its statement, Kalen Holmes, executive vice president for partner resources, said the Starbucks embraces diversity and provides an "inclusive, supportive and safe work environment" for its employees.
"This important legislation is aligned with Starbucks business practices and upholds our belief in the equal treatment of partners," the statement read. "It is core to who we are and what we value as a company."
This isn't the first time the company has made headlines for taking a stance on gay marriage. In 2011, Starbucks was among a group of 70 business and organizations opposing the Defense of Marriage Act, CNN reported.
An unrelated Feb. 14 boycott is planned to protest the company's policy allowing customers with guns to be served.
The National Gun Victims Action Council, an anti-gun group, said in a Jan. 23 news release its goal is to "eliminate the risk of guns in public places and ultimately to bring sane gun laws to the U.S."
In This article
-
Starbucks Coffee
19 Post Rd E, Westport, CT -
Starbucks Coffee
1030 Barnum Ave, Stratford, CT
libertarian
9:58 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
National Gun Victims Action Council ---- how many of those victims wouldn't have been victims if they were armed and could protect themselves.
Herb Morrison
1:21 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Another money shake-down..
Herb Morrison
1:24 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
What people need to start doing -- identify the ones who show up to these shake-down and start boycotting them. I like to think of it as a reverse boycott. You know someone with money is behind this -- find out who and give 'em a taste of their own medicine.
Herb Morrison
1:28 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
These religious groups are probably tax exemted and should be investigated for their political action.
Rosie777
8:43 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
I will be doing my part to boycott Starbucks for their support of this immoral social issue. .Just my personal opinion, which I believe I am entitled to as and American Citizen.
Alexandra
8:48 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
I love Starbucks, and admire their stance on equality for all.
Alexandra
8:51 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Oh, and I'm a Chrustian. God loves everyone, even the hypocrites who are urging everyone to boycott Starbucks.
MsKitty
9:15 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
I will stand behind Starbucks and go against all the religious bullcrap that is spilled into this country. It is the USA I have the right also to ENJOY my coffee and back up MY GAY friends on their rights as well. Christians should learn again what they are taught in church DO NOT JUDGE.
Charles Cornwallace
10:04 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Will you look at what this country has been turned into! Run the chance of putting people out of work in order to get an agenda pushed through? Who the hell cares what Starbucks thinks about any of htese issues? Last time I checked, you can't buy a gun there or get married at one. This has nothing to do with gay marriage or even guns -- it has to do with the progressive push to manage other people's property for them. It's all fun until someone else decides to tell you how to use your property, right!
Dom DeCicco
10:10 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
I think I am going to buy a bunch of $5 Starbucks gift certificates and hand them out after church next week. I might even ask my neighbor to join me for a Starbucks tomorrow. We haven't been talking much lately after a falling out, but this may be a good way of putting that behind us. We could have a Latte while I try to convince her of how poor our EDUCATION INDUSTRY is being run. I may ask her to say "No" to Make Your Day.
Robert Chambers
7:03 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I never go to Starbucks but I'll make an exception on that "boycott day" to show them the world isn't full of asinine biggots and namby pamby gun control freaks.
Anne K. Mulligan
7:26 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The same religious groups wanted people to boycott Disneyland a few years ago for the same reason. As far as I know, it had absolutely no effect on Disney's profits.
Mark Hannon Art Direction & Design
8:17 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
USA Christian Ministries seems nothing more than common, ordinary bigots, using religion to legitimize their stance. I doubt Starbucks will even notice.