March 21st, 2012
Maggie Gallagher and Johnathan Baker, National Organization for Marriage’s director for what they call “The Corporate Fairness Project,” attended the annual Starbucks shareholder meeting today. Baker, as a Starbucks shareholder, addressed the meeting and took the board to task for the “controversial stand Starbucks has taken here in Washington in support of same-sex marriage.” Citing a Starbucks message endorsing Washington’s Referendum 74, a proposal that would allow marriage equality to take effect in the state, as reflecting Starbucks’ core values as a company, Baker asked if that decision was made by the board of directors and questioned whether the decision would hinder the company’s efforts to expand internationally. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz responded:
Any decision of this type or magnitude has be made with great thoughtfulness and I would assure you that a senior team of Starbucks discussed this. And it was, to be candid with you, not something that was a difficult decision for us and we did share this with some members of the board as well. [Applause and cheers]
I don’t want to answer the question in any way that would be disrespectful to you or other people who might see it differently. I think Starbucks has many constituents, and from time to time we are going to make a decision that we think is consistent with the heritage and the tradition of the company that perhaps may be inconsistent with one group’s view of the world or a decision we may make. I said earlier in my prepared remarks that we’re not perfect, and from time to time we may make a mistake or people may view it as a mistake. But we made that decision, in our view, through the lens of humanity and being the kind of company that embraces diversity.”
And with that, NOM announced their boycott:
“Unlike our opponents, we do not target whole companies for the actions of an individual business executive in that company,” said Brian Brown, NOM’s president. “But Starbucks has taken a corporate position in support of redefining marriage for all of society. We will not tolerate an international company attempting to force its misguided values on citizens. The majority of Americans and virtually every consumer in some countries in which Starbucks operates believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. They will not be pleased to learn that their money is being used to advance gay marriage in society.”
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MsRowena
March 21st, 2012
I actually don’t like Starbucks coffee very much. But I will damn sure be enjoying myself some tomorrow morning!
David in Houston
March 21st, 2012
If marriage has been “redefined for all of society” then why haven’t Brian’s and Maggot’s marriages been destroyed? Same-sex marriage is legal in 6 states and 10 countries. You’d think with all those gay marriages going on, one of their marriages would have ended in divorce by now, right?
Oh, and the boycott against Starbucks is pointless. The only people that support NOM are homophobic elderly people and religious nut-jobs. Neither group has ever been in a Starbucks.
I’m hoping it gets to the point where the public won’t “tolerate” the likes of NOM interfering in our secular society. Note to NOM: If you don’t like gay marriage, then don’t marry someone of the same sex.
Ivan
March 22nd, 2012
“We will not tolerate an international company attempting to force its misguided values on citizens.”
Then I look forward to their campaign against the Roman Catholic Church.
Jim Hlavac
March 22nd, 2012
NOM and the rest, with their boycotts of big companies, are going to run out of places to shop. I would suggest they take a page from the Amish, and simply live quiet lives away from the modern world.
MJC
March 22nd, 2012
This is a thoroughly impotent response on the part of NOM, and will be met with a yawn…the cure to which is to go have a large latte at Starbucks.
Maggie and Brian are pathetic.
Kelly
March 22nd, 2012
Every time an anti-gay group announces a boycott, I make sure to spend extra money there. I don’t drink coffee, but Starbucks has some baked goods I like, and I hear their tea is good. Between that and the double order of Girl Scout cookies I bought this year, I’ll be needing to get some bigger jeans at JC Penney’s.
It’s cute the way NOM thinks they have the critical mass on their side to actually pull off a boycott. I kinda wanna pat Maggie’s head and say, “OK, dear, you have your little boycott.” While drinking some tea and eating a scone from Starbucks.
customartist
March 22nd, 2012
It might do them some good to lay off of the caffine for a while?
John
March 22nd, 2012
Can we expect this boycott to go the same way as the boycott of JC Penny for hiring Ellen DeGeneres as the spokesperson? That one died somewhat quietly.
Richard Rush
March 22nd, 2012
I’ve probably only had Starbucks coffee twice in my life, and thought it tasted awful. But I’m going to give it another try because I’m sure it’s going to taste a whole lot better now.
MattNYC
March 22nd, 2012
Makes me giggle. I think Brian and Mags could certainly use a little less caffeine. :P
I think this will be as effective as AFA’s boycott of Disney (try telling hundreds of little girls that they can’t go see the latest Disney flick–I bet on-line sales of Disney videos QUADRUPLED in AFA strongholds).
Starbuck coffee STILL tastes like crud :-/
Timothy Kincaid
March 22nd, 2012
I’m not a big starbucks fan. I love my home brewed Folgers original roast and don’t care if my taste buds are insufficiently cultured.
But I do like an occasional latte and I think it just became latte season.
pax58
March 22nd, 2012
The founder of this company is a good man who has buildt an international company with strong ethics in mind. It has been reported that Starbucks, with it’s carefully contracted coffee beans has done more to stop hunger in parts of Africa than all the NGO’s combined. He started the company with benefits and profit sharing for employees from the very start. I’m not a coffee guy and spending $5 for a cup doesn’t appeal to me, but there again I am a 54 year old crank, young people love it. LOL
Priya Lynn
March 22nd, 2012
Pax you can get a regular coffee at Starbucks for a buck or so. That’s what I get when I go there, I don’t go for those fancy coffees.
Blair Martin
March 22nd, 2012
“The majority of Americans and virtually every consumer in some countries in which Starbucks operates believe that marriage is between one man and one woman.” You what? These people really have a trouble with mathematics.
Please note this well, NOM, in Australia virtually every consumer doesn’t believe in a exclusive privilege of marriage as dictated by you.
Oh and yeah, Starbucks in Oz? Meh – we ain’t that fussed, we have our own brands/chains we like better.
Ryan
March 23rd, 2012
Ugh. Peet’s is so much better. But I guess it’s Starbucks this weekend. Thanks a lot, NOM.
Kathy
March 23rd, 2012
saw the video of the Starbucks CEO and I went right out for a grande mocha. I made a point of telling the employees there why I came in. maybe I’ll try the oatmeal for breakfast…..
Dan
March 24th, 2012
Funny, NOM went to court to prevent the release of names of individuals and companies that donated money to oppose marriage equality, decrying boycotts against these companies.
Greg B.
March 25th, 2012
I wonder why dumpstarbucks.com was registered five years ago: http://www.whois.com/whois/dumpstarbucks.com
Doesn’t matter though, the petition thanking Starbucks for their support of equality is nearing 200,000 signatures. It cancels out NOM’s petition ten or twelve times over which means that all this latest anti-gay campaign will do is make NOM look desperate and foolish…again.
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