Starbucks Workers United said Tuesday that dozens of the coffee chain’s U.S. stores aren’t allowing employees to decorate for Pride month.
Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) told the media that the company unwaveringly supports the LGBTQ+ community and hasn’t changed its policies for store decorations.
“There has been no change to any policy on this matter and we continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities including for U.S. Pride month in June,” the company said.
A Starbucks spokesperson told media outlets the company’s security and safety manual provides broad guidance for stores around decorations. However, local store leaders and employees have latitude to make their own decorating choices within those guidelines.
The union’s claim comes as the LGBTQ+ community faces heightened attacks, ranging from protests to legislation to physical violence. Republican state lawmakers have targeted transgender people’s medical care and drag queens’ performances. Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures this session, according to an ACLU tally. At the same time, conservative activists have stoked backlash in recent months against corporations that have shown their support for the LGBTQ+ community, including Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD), Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) and North Face.
Starbucks Workers United said baristas in at least 22 states have reported instances where district and store managers have told them they can’t decorate for Pride month or where store representatives have taken down Pride flags.
SBUX shares inched forward 25 cents to $99.51.
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