Title: Starbucks and Same-Sex Marriage | Snopes.com
Headings: Starbucks and Same-Sex Marriage
Starbucks and Same-Sex Marriage
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz expressed the company's support for same-sex marriage but didn't tell opponents they weren't wanted as shareholders or customers.
Claim
Rating
Origin
Keep Snopes Debunking
Editors' Picks
What Is Critical Race Theory and Why Are Some People So Mad at It? We talked to experts who have the answers.
Under HIPAA Rules, Can Businesses Ask If You Have Been Vaccinated Against COVID-19? Where does HIPAA's privacy rule apply?

Content: We are deeply dedicated to embracing diversity and treating one another with respect and dignity, and remain committed to providing an inclusive, supportive and safe work environment for all of our partners. We look forward to seeing this legislation enacted into law. That support led the company to becoming the target of “ Dump Starbucks ” boycotts instituted by anti-gay marriage groups such as the National Organization for Marriage. At a Starbucks shareholders meeting in March 2013, shareholder Tom Strobhar (founder of The Corporate Morality Action Center, an organization which also opposes same-sex marriage) challenged Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz over the company’s financial performance, which Strobhar suggested had been harmed by Starbucks’ corporate support of same-sex marriage and the subsequent boycotts, saying: “ In the first full quarter after this boycott was announced, our sales and our earnings — shall we say politely — were a bit disappointing.” Schultz responded (and drew two rounds of applause from attendees) by asserting that Starbucks stock had performed well over the past year, affirming the company’s support of same-sex marriage, and stating that not all corporate decisions were based purely on economics: Not every decision is an economic decision. Despite the fact that you recite statistics that are narrow in time, we did provide a 38% shareholder return over the last year. I don’t know how many things you invest in, but I would suspect not many things, companies, products, investments have returned 38% over the last 12 months. Having said that, it is not an economic decision to me.