Starbucks allegedly 'bans' pro-LGBT decorations and flags in the middle of Pride Month, union claims — but coffee chain says it's 'false information'

Starbucks allegedly instructed its workers to remove pro-LGBT decorations and Pride flags this month from most of its stores throughout the country, according to the union Starbucks Workers United. However, the coffee chain denied the claims.

On Tuesday, the workers' union took to Twitter to call out the coffee chain for banning LGBT-themed decorations during Pride Month.

"In the middle of Pride Month, Starbucks BANS Pride decorations in stores across the United States," Starbucks Workers United wrote. "For the last two weeks, Starbucks workers have taken to social media to report that the company is no longer allowing Pride decorations in-store. This seems to be the first year the publicly 'pro-LGBTQ+' company has taken this kind of stance."

The workers' union accused the company of "taking a cue from Target," which, it stated, "bowed to anti-LGBTQ+ pressure and removed pride merchandise."

Last month, Target held an "emergency" meeting, during which it instructed some managers to move Pride merchandise from the front of the store to the back amid backlash over LGBT-themed children's apparel. Shortly after that, the company announced it would remove some of the more offensive items from its stores and online catalog altogether.

According to Starbucks Workers United, the coffee chain even removed pro-LGBT decorations from unionized stores. The group claimed that Starbucks has previously decorated annually during Pride Month.

"Starbucks is powered by many queer workers, but management has failed to materially support the LGBTQ+ community. Last October, some workers have reported that their transgender benefit plan changed, causing them to pay out of pocket fees and lose access to certain providers," the union claimed. "If Starbucks was a true ally, they would stand up for us, especially during a time when LGBTQ+ people are under attack. A company that cares wouldn't turn their back on the LGBTQ+ community to protect their already astronomically high profits."

The Daily Beast reported that Starbucks allegedly removed the decorations and flags from stores in at least 21 states, according to the union.

Starbucks Workers United spokesperson Casey Moore told the Daily Beast that baristas in Oklahoma were told "it was a safety issue related to the recent attacks on Target."

Workers in Massachusetts were told "they didn't have any labor hours to decorate for Pride," Moore added.

Moore also claimed that employees in Madison, Wisconsin, reported that their district manager removed the Pride decorations because they were not "welcoming for everyone."

Starbucks told the Daily Beast that the union was spreading "false information."

"We unwaveringly support the LGBTQIA2+ community," a company spokesperson told the outlet. "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."

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