The union representing Starbucks baristas announced that more than 150 coffee shops will be on strike next week. The walkout, which will involve more than 3,500 employees, comes after the company banned its workers from decorating its stores to celebrate Pride Month:
STRIKE WITH PRIDE! Seattle Roastery leads nationwide Starbucks strike over Starbucks’ hypocritical treatment of LGBTQIA+ workers. Over 150+ stores and 3,500 workers will be on strike over the course of the next week.
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) June 23, 2023
Starbucks Workers United reported earlier this month that the coffee company removed decorations and rainbow flags from many of its stores. This claim was seconded by several baristas and citizens who posted videos of Starbucks removing LGBT-themed items:
AMAZING
Starbucks is taking down all Pride decorations in stores across the United States
People are sick and tired of companies pushing the woke ideology. pic.twitter.com/vpIw8Ft3gq
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) June 13, 2023
Hell yeah! More of this! We need to organize a nationwide boycott of Starbucks and Target. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/PYrQT4dQAs
— Skylar Moore 🗽🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 (@skylarqueens) June 14, 2023
The company denied it was removing LGBT decorations. In a statement, Starbucks assured that it had implemented "no change to any guidance" on the matter and that it encouraged managers to decorate their stores for Pride Month:
In an internal memo to Starbucks store managers regarding Pride decor, the company claims there has been no change to guidance, and that the dozens of social media testimonies and videos are 'misinformation.'
But perhaps the most interesting claim is just a few lines below🧵2/4 pic.twitter.com/LGBpyCzGrb
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) June 21, 2023
Starbucks is not alone in being at the center of controversy for supporting the LGBT agenda. Companies such as Target, Kohl's and Bud Light parent company Anheuser-Busch also had disputes over their celebration of Pride Month, even affecting company revenues.
