Anti-gay group singles out Starbucks for boycott

LGBT civil rights activists are wondering why the National Organization for Marriage singled out Starbucks for a boycott when other major companies endorsed marriage equality in Washington state.

Before the vote and governor’s signature that legalized same-sex marriage in the state, Starbucks joined a number of companies in endorsing marriage equality.

Other pro-gay companies with headquarters in Washington state include Alcoa, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Nike and Vulcan. Other companies to endorse marriage equality include Apple and Google and corporate chiefs at Facebook and Yahoo.

Yet the National Organization for Marriage launched its “Dump Starbucks” campaign on Facebook and the Web, with easy access to campaign details through Google and Yahoo.

LGBT civil rights activists are wondering about the focus on Starbucks.

“People like Brian Brown and Maggie Gallagher no doubt use products from the dozens of consumer-facing brands that have come out in support of marriage equality and against Proposition 8 on a daily basis,” said Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese. “They include Microsoft, Apple, Google, Alcoa, Nike, and top executives from companies like Yahoo and Facebook. Nonetheless, it appears NOM launched their ‘Dump Starbucks’ campaign on Facebook. Do they not have any Microsoft software in their office? Do they ban employees from owning iPhones?”

NOM claims in its anti-Starbucks campaign that the coffee chain endorsement of marriage equality is in conflict with the majority of Americans who believe marriage is the union of a man and a woman.

However, recent polls indicate that about 53 percent of Americans support marriage equality and that 63 percent support legal recognition of same-sex relationships.

Starbucks has been a vocal supporter of marriage equality for loving same-sex couples – views that are in-line with the majority of Americans – and that enrages NOM,” said Solmonese said. “As a result, NOM is throwing a temper-tantrum and encouraging its few supporters to intentionally harm the economic well-being of Starbucks employees all over the world.”

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