More than 150 Starbucks stores and 3,500 workers will be on strike next week across the US, the union representing the coffee chain’s baristas said on Friday, after it claimed the company had banned gay Pride month decorations at its cafes.
Starbucks Workers United union said earlier this month the company took down LGBTQ+ Pride decorations and flags at several stores, while some workers took to social media to report the same.
Starbucks on Friday denied the claims as “false information”. It said last week there had been “no change to any policy on this matter” and that it was still encouraging store managers to celebrate Pride month.
Seems like a bafflibg decision on starbucks's end. Like it's a brand that could not be viewed as more culturally liberal. If anything them backing away from pride is the equivalent of bud light backing pride or whatever. The demographics of the customer base is likely a mix, but also it's absolutely more likely to cause a backlash with no benefit
It seems like it's a decision being made by certain regions (probably the ones you're already thinking of) and managers, not Starbucks as a whole.
The closest starbucks to me has a trans, enby, ace, and rainbow flag in their windows. It's 100% regional.