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Groups to Boycott Starbucks Over Stances on Gay Rights, Guns

Separate boycotts criticize coffee chain's stances on national issues.

 

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 several locations in Bolingbrook, 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 company 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."

  • Will you boycott Starbucks for its stance on gay marriage or guns?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • Yes
        7 (13%)
    • No
        44 (86%)
    Total votes: 51
  • This is not a scientific poll. View Results Vote!
Related Topics: Bolingbrook, Starbucks, and starbucks boycott

Jackie Traynere

7:07 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The 3 G's have nothing to do with how business should run, God, Guns and Gay's are personal choices. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee it, freedom of religion......etc......

Reply

Mike

8:28 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Starbucks doesn't want these nutbags in their stores anyway.

Reply

Bob Jonas

11:34 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012

I'm trying to figure out why this is even news. If you go to the USA Christian Ministries website direct from the article you will quickly find out these people are not Christian at all but just a bunch of misguided people who believe that God only loves the USA and we should only vote for people that are Christian. This is just as dumb as the Million Moms, whose membership does not even come close to that number telling JC Penney's to drop Ellen DeGeneres. Why are these consider news stories are beyond me, unless the media just likes to stir the pot and create mislead the uninformed.

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