FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2012
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Anath Hartmann at (703-683-5004)
"Americans should be able to drink a peaceful cup of coffee without worrying that a portion of the company's profits is going to be used to push gay marriage without a vote from the people."
—Brian Brown, NOM's President—
Olympia, WA—Today, Brian Brown, the president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), sharply criticized Starbucks' decision to wade into the gay marriage fight in Washington State. That decision comes on top of an earlier decision by Starbucks to ask the Supreme Court to strike down the federal definition of marriage as one man and one woman as well.
"Americans should be able to drink a peaceful cup of coffee without worrying that a portion of the company's profits is going to be used to push gay marriage without a vote from the people," said Brown. "This is a gratuitous leap into a hot button culture war issue; respect for diversity touted by Starbucks ought to include respecting the diverse views of all its customers and employees."
NOM pledged an intensive public relations effort to ask Starbucks customers who favor retaining marriage as the union of husband and wife to complain to company headquarters.
Jonathan Baker, head of NOM's Corporate Fairness Project, called on Starbucks to make it clear they will not discriminate against customers, vendors or employees who oppose same-sex marriage. "Increasingly, gay marriage extremists are arguing that people known to oppose same-sex marriage should not be hired, or even, should be fired. Diversity and tolerance are a two-way street. Having waded into a social issue where Starbucks has no special competence, the company has an obligation to reassure its customers, vendors and employees that it will respect the most important diversity—diversity of opinion," noted Baker.
To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray, eray@crcpublicrelations.com, (x130) or Anath Hartmann, ahartmann@crcpublicrelations.com, (x105) at 703-683-5004.
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49 Comments
Starbucks should stay out of the marriage fight just like pro-football players should stay out of the marriage fight. Oh...wait.
Where are all the big corporations against SSM? Guess there aren't any.
I'm sure there are some.And that you'd be trying to deprive them of freedom of expression if you knew who they were.
Look what I found in the NOM archives:
http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/c.omL2KeN0LzH/b.5075687/apps/s/content.asp?ct=6483335
So the lesson of the day is, NOM only wants businesses to stay out of the marriage fight if their opinion differs. Otherwise, they encourage support. Interesting.
Seriously, NOM? Did you even consider for a second the charges of hypocrisy that would be leveled at your for this press release?
If you want to make your point, be up front: tell Starbucks you'd rather they supported your side rather than staying out of the "marriage fights" altogether. At least then you have a leg to stand on when your El Pollos Locos come home to roost.
Of course according to NOM it's "economic terrorism" when gay groups boycott businesses.
Typical hypocrisy from NOM.
Would their response be the same if Starbucks or Nike or Microsoft was actively OPPOSING marriage equality?
It is sad and disgusting to see these corporations supporting this. All of the documented evidence about how unhealthy anal sex and homosexuality is and these companies rather than support healthy living are supporting a deathsyle. All homosexuality leads to is sickness, disease, early death, and spiraling health care costs. What is the benefit to supporting this.
Marriage licenses are issued by the state, not the church. No religion is necessary for a marriage to be legal or recognized.
Skooter McGoo,the primary necessity for a marriage license is that the partners be of opposite sexes.As a non-religious person,what any religion wants doesn't concern me;that my government enforce the opposite-sex requirement and dismiss all attempts to treat it as optional does concern me.
WeTheSheeple,
companies that oppose what you call "marriage equality" should be rewarded and those that support it condemned and boycotted.Where's the hypocrisy?
I think corporations should stay out of social issues period. They should also stay out of fiscal issues but that's a whole different fight,
Now individuals putting their weight behind an issue I don't mind.
Other companies that support marriage equality in and around Washington State are Google, Microsoft, Apple, Nike, Real Networks and so on. Google is present on phones, they own blog platforms (like the one NOM uses) and they're fairly ubiquitous.
Will you give up these? Most of them directly gave money to ratify R-71 (and so did Boeing, who is set to endorse soon), the second-to-last step in the move toward marriage equality.
Google, Microsoft, Apple, Nike, Real Networks, Starbucks - can NOMers take a hint?
Let me make it simple - you are on the losing side and major corporations prefer to be on the winning side.
@John Noe
If you have already done the research for all these claims, please post up a link to your thesis/theses so that everyone can be enlightened by the proof to the myths that you boast; because, you would never know that all the illnesses that affect the homosexual community also affect the heterosexual community -- Illnesses don't pick and choose. Also, early death in homosexuals is about as accurate as early death in left-handed people -- something that, in case you didn't know, they didn't choose EITHER. So, please give us proof that all these things are going to happen to people, and disregard all the elder homosexuals who are as healthy as you and the pastor/priest of your church.
@Louis E
hypocrisy
1. the practice of professing standards, beliefs, etc, contrary to one's real character or actual behaviour, esp the pretence of virtue and piety
In case you had never heard of the word, this is the definition of hypocrisy. Fundamentally, when you say that it is ok for companies supporting marriage equality to be condemned and those that fight it to be rewarded, you are discriminating and when you say that it is your right to discriminate you create an instance of hypocrisy. Imagine the roles to be reversed and the homosexuals were exercising their "right" to discriminate against you... Now you feel wrong and pursue legal action. Is this not exactly what's going on, except you're the discriminating party? Furthermore, once you remove religion from the debate then you LITERALLY feel that one person is above another. The ONLY argument against same sex marriage is religious in nature "God created Adam and Eve..." you know the rest. If there should be no religion to intervene and claim that "their rights are getting infringed" by same sex marriage, then there is no logical reason that one US citizen is entitled to marry his wife and another US citizen does not get the same tax benefits, the same estate benefits, the same immigration benefits, etc because his spouse so happens to be Mr. Doe instead of Mrs. Doe. The government was meant to protect citizens against people like you who would discriminate out of a personal opinion -- which you are entitled to, that much has and will never be contested.
The only thing that I have to say about this article is that the sheer hypocrisy is enraging. Mr. Brown should learn that: YES, DIVERSITY AND TOLERANCE ARE A TWO WAY STREET! You cannot claim that you religious people are getting fired unjustly and being discriminated when the reason they are getting fired, or not hired, is because they are the first ones to point the finger and tell another human being "Your way of life is WRONG. If you do not change your NASTY homosexual ways, God will PUNISH you. You are DISGUSTING human beings who don't deserve any rights." etc. So, tolerance means that when you are employed by a company you DO NOT speak your personal beliefs and insult neither a fellow employee nor a customer while you are on the clock. Furthermore, you when these people are getting encouraged by organizations like NOM and the Catholic church to speak their minds -- especially when it offends others and others don't want to hear it -- it makes it difficult for these people to not get fired.
Louis E: No one is trying to deprive corps of their freedom of expression. But if they do decide to express themselves, they must be ready to face the financial consequences. On either side of the issue. And if what religions want doesn't concern you, the fact that your government is enforcing their beliefs should.
It's more important to be on the correct side,which condoning same-sex sexual relationships is NOT.
Some of national corporations that support marriage equality are: American Airlines, Citi, Nationwide, Bank of America, Prudential, Lexus, Ernst and Young, BP, Chevron, MGM, Chase, Cox cable, Dell, IBM, Cunard, Macy's, Met Life, Shell, TD Bank, Orbitz and Tylenol.
The true socially conservative position should be to encourage fewer couples to cohabit and fewer children to be raised by unwed parents. Banning marriage for gay couples won't break them up but it sure sends a message to youth that marriage isn't important to commitment and raising kids. BTW gay couples adopt older kids and kids with disabilities at a much greater percentage than heterosexuals do so they are saving the state money and should be thanked.
the defense of marriage act states that marriage is between one man and one woman.... period.....and if we had a president who did his job, there would not be this ongoing discussion.....
Why are we allowing companies to violate our first amendment rights to free speech and freedom of religion? Once these companies have to pay out huge settlements to NOM, they might think twice about attacking ones religious freedom.
Thank Mike J, NOM send a letter to all of those companies....We made be able to boycott all of them but we want need to, all we need is few of them, next, DOMINO EFFECT...
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH... NOM SEND A LETTER TO EACH COMPANY BEHIND SAME SEX MARRIAGE CAMPAIGN, EVERY MONTH FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, LET US BOYCOTT AS MANY OF THOSE COMPANIES AS NEEEEDEEED..... NOM LET US TAKE THIS MOVEMENT NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY... IF MARTIN LUTHER THE KING DID IT-BOYCOTT WITH SUCCESS- SO CAN WE! IF THE OTHER SIDE CAN MANIPULATE BUSINESS FOR THERE CAUSE, WHY CAN'T WE?
M.Jones: Huh?
My fellow friends and cobloggers, We want to boycott these businesses on the below list if you live in WA, and in the US...for those of you who are addicted to their products and feel it will be difficult to stop giving these businesses your harfd earned money, at the same time while they give you the "finger",send them a letter... or encourage NOM to do so, in support of protecting our Nation traditional values. More important, let us EDUCATE these businesses on the consequences of supporting SSM...
We may not live in a pro SSM State but all of us can rally to boycott these business on a National as well as International level...IT'S CALLED, PLAN (B)!
NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME AND THE PERFECT YEAR 2012 to take back America from the jaws of the social radicals... NOM! UNITED WE SAND, UNITED WE FALL! But not without plan (B) in placed....
_____________________________________
Here's a list of companies to boycott (they are the companies that have come out in support of "marriage equality" in WA):
16 Copenhagen
• A New Chapter
• Adrift Hotel
• Alcoa, Inc.
• American Family Insurance
• Area 58 Fine Art
• Atticus Coffee & Gifts
• Attorney at Law, P.S.
• Barbara Grant Consulting Group
• Big Mario’s Pizza
• Bimbos Cantina
• Bizible
• Blue Moon Burgers
• Boo Radley’s
• BrandQuery LLC
• BrandQuery, LLV
• Business Diversity Counseling Services
• Capitol Florist
• Central Physical Therapy & Fitness, Inc.
• CG Tech Services, Inc.
• Cha Cha Lounge
• Choke Shirt Company and Prints
• Chris Porter Medical
• Clean Air Lawn Care
• Conner Remodeling &Design, INC.
• Connors and Company
• Concur
• Cordova Law Firm
• Cupcake Royale
• Dani Weiss Photography
• DBL Property Maintenance
• DML Insurance Services, Inc.
• Elliot Bay Book Co.
• Freeman LLC
• Fun Fitness
• Fuzed Travel
• Group Health Plan
• Go Green Directory
• Google
• Havana
• Hillside Quickie Restaurants
• Inn at Discovery Coast
• Integrated Financial Group
• James Braden
• Jason Rumohr
• JSW Ventures
• Juju
• Kelly Printing & Graphics
• Kill Rock Stars
• Kings Hardware
• Lagoma Lodge
• Law Office of Allen Draher, PLLC
• LGBTQ Counseling Servicecs
• Liberty Cafe
• Local 360
• Local Grown Cafe
• Local Roots Farm
• Microsoft
• Moe Bar
• Mx2 Computer Consulting
• Nike
• Northmoon Artistic Creations
• Onto Entertainment
• Out There Monthly: The Inland NW Guide to Outdoor Recreation
• Pacific Forest Resources
• Pike Street Fish Fry
• Poquitos
• Portland Area Business Association
• Precision Door Service
• Rain City Entertainment
• Real Networks
• Ric-O-Shay
• Screenplay, Inc.
• Seattle Cigar Expo
• Seattle Gay News
• Seattle Interactive Conference
• Seattle Popcorn Company Inc. DBA Uncle Woddy’s Caramel Corn
• Seattle Restaurant Alliance
• Seattle Tattoo Expo
• Serendipity Catering
• Skylark Cafe & Club
• Spitfire Bar & Grill
• Spokane Wireless Inc.
• Starbucks
• Stoel Rives
• Tango Restaurant
• The 5 Point Café
• The Clark Company
• The Crocodile
• The Red Door
• The Saint
• The Wedding Gentleman
• Thinking Cap Communications & Design
• ThirdPlanet Productions
• Thom’s Hand-Brewed Coffee
• True North, PLLC
• Tula’s Restaurant and Jazz Club
• Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria
• Unicorn Bar
• Verite Coffee
• Vista Diagnostics International
• Vulcan
• Wed4Less Northwest
• Whidbey Wayfarer Farm
• Wild Sage American Bistro
• Zenith Diversity
• Zim’s Mobile Computer Services LLC
It does not matter what big business thinks. The issue of marriage is to be decided by we the people. That is what is says in our Constitution, we the people not we the corporations.
Since when did we had over our democracy rights over to the big corporations. When the issue had gone before the people, we the people have spoken every time. We the people have said that marriage is between a man and a woman.
It has been stated 31 times already and will be said again in NC and Minn. When will big business listen to we the people.
Nicole A,I consider same-sex sexual relationships an outrage to secular common sense...I don't care what religions either condemn or command them of their followers,I want my government to have a negative attitude toward the practice because the general welfare requires this.
Mike J,all of those corporations should reverse their stand on the issue.
"PFLAG Mom",it's much more important that couples not be same-sex than that they be married.Children should never be consigned to the custody of same-sex couples and commitment to a same-sex relationship is to committing to an opposite-sex marriage as taking the oath as a "made man" in the Mob is to being sworn in as a police officer.The important thing is that one be good rather than bad...and committing to the wrong course of action makes it worse just as committing to the right course makes it better.I am sorry that you abandoned your child to his/her homosexuality rather than persevering with the "tough love" children afflicted by the disorder that is same-sex sexual attraction need.
If we "NOMers" are on the lossing side of this issue, then why is it that in 35 states where this has come up for a vote, 35 times out of 35 the people voted to protect marriage? This is why the gay marriage crowd resorts to bullying tactics, because if they let the people vote, which IS a constitutional right, they will loose ever time.
Usually, liberals are railing about the injustices of big corporations, but now they feel that big business is the authoritative voice on social issues. In the minds of SSMers, it is unjust for the people to decide what marriage is, but we're all supposed to bow at the feet of what corporations want.
Since the SSMers on this page are happily touting how many companies support the redefinition of marriage, perhaps they will admit that homosexuals don't qualify as a vulnerable, politically-powerless suspect class in need of special protections from the government.
it is too late. Since they entered the debate , they are trapped. I WILL BOYCOTT STARBUCKS and will advise all my people and organizations where I speak to do the same and spread the word that starbucks is unfriendly to the American family and that if you buy from them , proceeds go to support sexual perverts.
They already lost my business. I'm not worried about discrimination. I have already been called names and made fun of for my views, I simple do not care what people think of me. However, I will not support immorality with my dollars. You should have kept your mouth shut starbucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I see a lot of SSMs on this page that seem to believe the only opinion that matters is theirs. It's ok for them to fight for their definition of marriage, but not ok for us to fight for ours. It's ok for them to continuously lobby for law changes, but not ok to uphold the vote of the majority that doesn't want their agenda forced on us. It's fine for them to have gay pride parades....but imagine if their was a parade called a Straight Rights parade? And THEY talk about intolerance?
Starbucks quite openly and proudly joined other giants like Microsoft, Google, and Nike in taking a public stand for what is right, forward-thinking, and fair.
Wow, Leo...that's a HUGE list!! Doesn't that say something about our culture's natural progression?
Marcos,all same-sex sexual relationships,and accommodation thereof,are wrong,and increases in the same are the opposite of progress.
Marcos-no, its said who American business is moving in the wrong direction-businesses are not people... there were people before there were business...Besides, most of those business are located in WA where there are plenty of homosexuals.
Poster #15 acts like so many other sodomites. When shown the overwhelming biological and medical evidence of why homosexuality is wrong and dangerous they simply deny, deny, and deny.
The issue is simple... God says what is right and what is wrong. Truth remains regardless of what we think about the truth. Homosexuality is sin God says so... that is enough. If you need more proof it proves you don't take God at his word. I'm not over simplifying this... it really is this simple. Homosexuality is sin and sin brings death. Death is only defeated through one person... Jesus Christ. Make no mistake God will have the final say. His truth will stand.
MY MESSAGE TO SSM, HOMOSEXUAL SUPPORTERS: GAME ON! AND PLEASE LET'S CONTINUE LISTING OTHER BUSINESSES WHO SUPPORT YOUR DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY...let us just get everything out in the opening, call it, "business coming out"...
THE PEOPLE OF ALL RELIGIONS AND FAITH (98% OF THE POPULATION) WILL DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR AMERICA, NOT POLITIANS, SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, OR BIG BUSINESSES... WE ARE PLAN (B), WE NEED TO WORK ON BEING PLAN (A) NOT "BIG' GOVT, TO ERADICATE THE SSA MOVEMENT... WE ARE COMMERCE, WE ARE BUYERS AND SELLERS... BUSINESSES WILL FAIL WHEN PEOPLE STOP BUYER THEIR PRODUCTS...THOSE BUSINESSES THAT FLIPS THE FINGER AT HUMANITY AND PROMOTE PERVERSION NEEDS TO FAIL...
I have no problem boycotting Starbucks, I hate their coffee, I favor Green Mountain coffee and will stop buying the coffee if I findout the company too, support marriage curruption...
MY MESSAGE TO SSM, HOMOSEXUAL SUPPORTERS: GAME ON! AND PLEASE LET'S CONTINUE LISTING OTHER BUSINESSES WHO SUPPORT YOUR DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY...let us just get everything out in the opening, call it, "business coming out"...
THE PEOPLE OF ALL RELIGIONS AND FAITH (98% OF THE POPULATION) WILL DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR AMERICA, NOT POLITIANS, SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, OR BIG BUSINESSES... WE ARE PLAN (B), WE NEED TO WORK ON BEING PLAN (A) NOT "BIG' GOVT, TO ERADICATE THE SSA MOVEMENT... WE ARE COMMERCE, WE ARE BUYERS AND SELLERS... BUSINESSES WILL FAIL WHEN PEOPLE STOP BUYER THEIR PRODUCTS...THOSE BUSINESSES THAT FLIPS THE FINGER AT HUMANITY AND PROMOTE PERVERSION NEEDS TO FAIL...
I have no problem boycotting Starbucks, I hate their coffee, I favor Green Mountain coffee and will stop buying the coffee if I findout the company too, support marriage curruption....
Thank you Leo for the list of companies. I will be making sure I promote them as reasonable corporations, and take my business to them. I personally hate starbucks coffee, but I will drink it with a smile knowing that they will put that money towards the purpose of equal rights for all american persons without consideration of any factor of the individual.
The views you folks here have are far skewed from what is "biological", "medical", "wrong" and so much more.
I have many homosexual friends, however I myself am straight. I still support their right to equal rights under the law. The law should not differentiate among persons in any portion for any reason. This is not right and wrong, it is what is their right and not.
There should not be a law that prevents women from the right to vote. There should be no laws forcing different ethnic groups to be segregated. And frankly in the eyes of the law there should be no question of the rights when it comes to marriage, a contract between two consenting adults.
Studies have shown that homosexual families have no detrimental impact on the children they have raised. Yet while you claim homosexuals are ignoring the facts, you clearly are not up to date on what the facts are.
You also refer to homosexuals as "sodomites". While very interesting, not all homosexuals participate in sodomy, and I am willing to bet that if this was added to the national census the percentage of heterosexuals participating far outnumber the homosexuals. Keep in mind that half of all homosexuals just do not have the equipment to perform such an act.
I also like people who believe there is an agenda to force "our" beliefs on you, when in actuallity that is not what is being asked at all. We do not wish for you to change your beliefs, just that we should not be held to them. The fundamentals of our country are that no law should recognize faith, and there is no argument that can be made here on any other grounds.
Another generation or two and people like you will no longer be infecting the minds of the populous with needless hate and persecution of others. If that is not your thing there are plenty of countries in the middle east that would gladly accept you and your intolerant ways would be welcomed.
Farewell in your quest to keep the populous oppressed and dangling you "We are right you are wrong" banner. I will keep flying the rainbow flag with my homsexual friends and carry their banner which says we are all equal and all individuals and each and everyone of us, even you NOM advocates, should be celebrated for the differences and similarities that make us all special.
I don't believe this will make any difference to many of you, but hey if even one person grows a heart it was worth my time. I hope to see you at the pride parade this year and we can dance together celebrating the uniqueness the spirit has bestowed upon us all.
I think Americans should be able to have a peaceful chicken sandwich without worrying that a portion of the company's profits is going to be used to push an agenda. But it seems you have no problem with that. I'll drink my Starbucks, and you can have your Chick-fil-a.
My tolerance stops where your hate starts.
The basis for prohibiting same-gender marriage is essentially religious (religious texts from a long time ago). Eventually, the Supreme Court of the USA will rule that US citizens cannot lawfully (constitutionally) be denied access to state marriage licenses on the grounds of the gender of the person they wish to marry. It's the American principle of the right of individuals to be free of government interference in their personal liberties without a rational basis. Nobody who has tried to explain what "rational basis" exists has succeeded in doing so.
Grandma: DOMA doesn't prohibit marriage equality at the state level. Clearly, you're uninformed.
Violette: marriage is more than a contract between two consenting adults. To start you might ask, why _2_? Well, the reason it IS two is because that's exactly how many human beings it takes to make a baby. The "old faxhioned" way - i.e. not in a lab where it takes a whole bunch of folks. Marriage is between adults, but it's about children. It's about children having a mom AND A DAD to care for them. When you redefine marriage to make it genderless, it will be the kids who will suffer. Just like when SOMEONE redefined it to make it temporary. Kids suffer. The difference is, we will know who it was that changed it this time.
Violette (wow, what a gorgeous name!!!) said, "The law should not differentiate among persons in any portion for any reason. This is not right and wrong, it is what is their right and not."
That is correct, and that should include ignoring any sexual identity politics. Marriage laws do not take into account sexual orientation, as they shouldn't, and simply make the requirement that the couple include one man and one woman. If one or both individuals seeking to be married self-identify as "gay," the govt. doesn't discriminate against them. That is true equality.
Violette, the same-sexed argument doesn't take into account the fact that same-sexed relationships consist of siblings, or a parent and child; those same-sex relationships would still fail to qualify for marriage, even though the rationale to do so would be eliminated by SSM laws.
Violette, Thank you for reminding me how much I love gay people. I love them just as much as I love my straight friends. I hope that some day they can have the same rights as I do. I hope that someday their children will be able to know that the state acknowledges them as a family. I hope someday that someday they will never feel compelled to kill themselves because of hatred and intolerance.
To NOM and it's supporters: I really love my Starbucks and can't wait to buy some stock. I also can't wait until you realize that according to the American Medical Association, homosexuality is not a disease and therefore does not spread. It cannot infect anyone, unlike your Unchristian bigotry.
Claire, I love all my friends equally as well. That doesn't mean I agree with all of their political views. Thankfully, every individual in the United States has the same rights as every other. No special rights, just equal rights.
ive hated starbucks from the begining, there coffee is nasty rocket fuel tasteing dreck anyway, so im glad i wont be going THERE anymore. i always got the feeling there were very leftist idiots anyway, not surprised.
anyone who says marriage is NOT between a man and a woman has got some seriously messed up social views.