FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 21, 2012
Contact: Anath Hartmann or Elizabeth Ray (703-683-5004)
"Corporations should not take sides in a culture war that pits a company against the majority of the American people, and nearly all its consumers in some international markets."—Brian Brown, president—
Seattle, Washington — The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), America's largest group dedicated to preserving traditional marriage and the faith communities that sustain it, today announced it will lead an international "Dump Starbucks" protest of Starbucks Coffee Company to give voice to consumers around the world who support preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Customers are invited to visit www.DumpStarbucks.com immediately to take action.
"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."
The new protest campaign was announced after the annual Starbucks shareholders meeting today in Seattle, where NOM spokesmen queried the board on its new policies promoting gay marriage and demanded protection against discrimination for employees, vendors and customers who disagree.
"We respect the important role of businesses in providing goods, services and jobs, and that people of diverse moral views build great companies working together," Brown said. "But Starbucks has corporately, as an organization, endorsed and helped pass gay marriage in the state of Washington. Its executive vice president of partner resources has stated that gay marriage "is aligned with Starbucks business practices and upholds our belief in the equal treatment of partners. It is core to who we are and what we value as a company." Corporations should not take sides in a culture war that pits a company against half the American people, and nearly all its consumers in some international markets."
NOM said it would mount a campaign to urge consumers to boycott Starbucks and contact the manager of their local Starbucks operation to complain about the corporation's attempts to redefine marriage for all of society. The group will also launch an advertising campaign to inform consumers around the world about the company's activities. Starbucks operates in 55 countries including many where same-sex marriage is strongly opposed.
"We are today announcing a sustained public campaign calling on Starbucks to stop waging war against marriage, and the views of more than half its worldwide customers. Starbucks should be in the business of offering all its diverse customers a great cup of coffee, not taking sides against the views of its customers, vendors, and employees around the world," said Brown.
NOM will place ads throughout the United States, as well as in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, urging consumers to "Dump Starbucks" because purchasing a cup of Starbucks equals support for gay marriage. The "Dump Starbucks" campaign will ask consumers to join the campaign against Starbuck's corporate irresponsibility.
"Starbucks may have been hoping that what happens in Seattle stays in Seattle, but we are going to make sure Starbucks customers, not only here but worldwide, know that drinking a cup of Starbucks coffee promotes gay marriage," said Jonathan Baker, head of NOM's Corporate Fairness Project and a Starbucks stockholder. "It's ironic that even as Starbucks endorsed gay marriage here, its website on involvement in the Middle East claims the corporation does not, 'support any political or religious cause.' Lying to your customers is never a good business model," Baker added.
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To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Anath Hartmann, [email protected], at 703-683-5004.
Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).
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