Starbucks has always been a huge supporter and advocate for the LGBT community.
In the 1990s, it was one of the first large corporations to offer health care benefits for same sex partners. I myself have known one partner who went through cosmetic surgery to transition from male to female, paid for by Starbucks health insurance. Starbucks has offered support to PRIDE related events. I just wrote about the Clean Sweep project, lead by Seattle PRIDE. Starbucks partners volunteered and donated coffee and pastries to the event.
During PRIDE month, Starbucks has allowed their stores to freely display PRIDE flags. (It’s mentioned in this article here.)
Starbucks designated 97 of their Seattle stores as a “Safe Place” last November, in response to Seattle crime numbers suggesting a “a possible modest uptick in attacks and menacing behavior aimed at the gay community.”
There’s more. There’s no question that the company is steeped in a long tradition of Gay, Lesbian, Bi Sexual, Transgendered equality.
In light of what’s happened in Orlando, I’d like to see Starbucks do a couple of simple things:
Allow all store partners (including Roastery partners) to wear PRIDE t-shirts all month long.
Expand the “Safe Place” program to more Starbucks stores.
Please share and vote up the PRIDE t-shirt idea.
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I love what Starbucks has done in the ways of inclusion, and making Starbucks a safe place. That being said, it is still a business. As a store manager, I’d much rather see my partners in uniform with a pin, a badge, a patch, a different apron, rather than a tshirt. I do love the Starbucks pride shirts, and I wear mine proudly, but not at work. The requirement of a collared shirt, and black or khaki pants is much more professional than a tshirt. While I do understand the argument that “it’s just coffee” or “the baristas don’t need to look professional, it’s a fun tshirt,” I think it distracts from their job. I think it can also start an unnecessary conversation about beliefs that will, again, distract from the customer and partner experiences within a store.
I guess I just like the clean, focused look of everyone in a black or white polo and a clean green or black apron.
@S. Hardy – The thing of it is, Starbucks has a very very long history of allowing their partners to wear t-shirts at various times for various reasons. It’s an idea that’s not very far removed from the current practice.
@Melody Starbucks MentorWest @MentorWestSBUX Jun 14
Showing support for Orlando ❤️ #StarbucksPride pic.twitter.com/Ek41KuT1Rx
This is my usual Starbucks I go to