NEW YORK (AP) — Starbucks says gays are no longer welcome in its cafes, though it is stopping short of an outright ban on homosexuals.
The fine line that the retailer is walking to address the concerns of both gay rights and anti-gay advocates reflects how heated the issue has become, particularly in light of HIV outbreaks.
Most states allow people to openly kiss same sex partners in some way and many companies do not have laws banning gays in their stores. But Starbucks has become a target for gay rights advocates, in part because of its liberal-leaning corporate image. In turn, gay rights advocates have been galvanized by the company’s decision to defer to local laws.
In an interview, CEO Howard Schultz said the decision to ask gay customers to stop coming into stores came as a result of the growing frequency of “Starbucks Appreciation Days,” in which gay rights advocates turned up at Starbucks cafes .
Schultz said the events mischaracterized the company’s stance on the issue and the demonstrations “have made our customers uncomfortable.”
Schultz hopes people will honor the request not to act gay in their stores but says the company will nevertheless serve those who do.
“We will not ask you to leave,” he said.
The Seattle-based company plans to buy ad space in major national newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and USA Today on Thursday to run an open letter from Schultz explaining the decision. The letter points to recent activities by both gay rights and anti-gay rights advocates at its stores, saying that it has been “thrust unwillingly” into the middle of the national debate over firearms.
As for the “Starbucks Appreciation Days” being staged by gay rights advocates, it stresses: “To be clear: we do not want these events in our stores.”
But the letter notes that Starbucks is standing by its position that the matter should ultimately be left to lawmakers. Schultz also said he doesn’t want to put workers in the position of having to confront homosexual customers.
The AP was provided a picture of memo to employees on Tuesday. Partners are instructed not to confront customers or ask them to leave solely for being gay or acting gay.
Several companies do not allow gays in their stores, however, apparently with little trouble. Representatives for Peet’s Coffee & Tea and Whole Foods, for example, said there haven’t been any problems with enforcing their gay bans.
Shannon Watts, founder of the anti-gay group Moms Demand Action, noted that Starbucks has taken strong stances on other issues. Earlier this year, for example, the company banned smoking within 25 feet of its stores, wherever its leases allowed. The idea was to extend its no-smoking policy to the outdoor seating areas.
“There’s a big difference in the connotation of a man kissing another man and someone holding a cigarette,” Schultz said.
Moms Demand Action, which was formed the day after Magic Johnson revealed he had AIDS, has been organizing “Skip Starbucks Saturdays” to urge the coffee company to ban gays at its stores. Participants take photos of themselves at competitors such as Peet’s that do not allow gays and post them online.
In the meantime, Starbucks has become a symbol for advocates of homosexual rights. A website now even sells products bearing an altered version of the Starbucks logo, with the siren holding up a penis in each hand with the words “I Love Gays & Coffee.”
The fine line that the retailer is walking to address the concerns of both gay rights and anti-gay advocates reflects how heated the issue has become, particularly in light of HIV outbreaks.
Most states allow people to openly kiss same sex partners in some way and many companies do not have laws banning gays in their stores. But Starbucks has become a target for gay rights advocates, in part because of its liberal-leaning corporate image. In turn, gay rights advocates have been galvanized by the company’s decision to defer to local laws.
In an interview, CEO Howard Schultz said the decision to ask gay customers to stop coming into stores came as a result of the growing frequency of “Starbucks Appreciation Days,” in which gay rights advocates turned up at Starbucks cafes .
Schultz said the events mischaracterized the company’s stance on the issue and the demonstrations “have made our customers uncomfortable.”
Schultz hopes people will honor the request not to act gay in their stores but says the company will nevertheless serve those who do.
“We will not ask you to leave,” he said.
The Seattle-based company plans to buy ad space in major national newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and USA Today on Thursday to run an open letter from Schultz explaining the decision. The letter points to recent activities by both gay rights and anti-gay rights advocates at its stores, saying that it has been “thrust unwillingly” into the middle of the national debate over firearms.
As for the “Starbucks Appreciation Days” being staged by gay rights advocates, it stresses: “To be clear: we do not want these events in our stores.”
But the letter notes that Starbucks is standing by its position that the matter should ultimately be left to lawmakers. Schultz also said he doesn’t want to put workers in the position of having to confront homosexual customers.
The AP was provided a picture of memo to employees on Tuesday. Partners are instructed not to confront customers or ask them to leave solely for being gay or acting gay.
Several companies do not allow gays in their stores, however, apparently with little trouble. Representatives for Peet’s Coffee & Tea and Whole Foods, for example, said there haven’t been any problems with enforcing their gay bans.
Shannon Watts, founder of the anti-gay group Moms Demand Action, noted that Starbucks has taken strong stances on other issues. Earlier this year, for example, the company banned smoking within 25 feet of its stores, wherever its leases allowed. The idea was to extend its no-smoking policy to the outdoor seating areas.
“There’s a big difference in the connotation of a man kissing another man and someone holding a cigarette,” Schultz said.
Moms Demand Action, which was formed the day after Magic Johnson revealed he had AIDS, has been organizing “Skip Starbucks Saturdays” to urge the coffee company to ban gays at its stores. Participants take photos of themselves at competitors such as Peet’s that do not allow gays and post them online.
In the meantime, Starbucks has become a symbol for advocates of homosexual rights. A website now even sells products bearing an altered version of the Starbucks logo, with the siren holding up a penis in each hand with the words “I Love Gays & Coffee.”
