On Sunday, June 25, Starbucks workers at the San Francisco Castro District store joined at least 3000 other Starbucks workers at more than 150 locations in a nationwide strike to protest the company’s alleged restriction of Pride decorations. 

“Many of us chose to work for Starbucks because we believed the company was once a proud supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community,” explained barista Kyler Trainer. “However, even in the Castro, we have experienced retaliation for hanging Pride-related materials within our store. Especially considering that more states are trying to pass anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation, the removal of Starbucks’ Pride support is unacceptable.

“We are here to fight not only for our basic rights to exist, but to thrive. Pride month should not be a marketing ploy, but a period where the LGBTQIA+ community can commemorate, demonstrate, and raise awareness of the conscious efforts to degrade our self-worth. We stand in solidarity with all our fellow partners and will continue to support all the populations we serve.”

Starbucks Workers United is a union that represents more than 8000 workers at 320 Starbucks stores in 38 states.

Starbucks is currently being prosecuted by the National Labor Relations Board for engaging in bad-faith bargaining. Starbucks’ alleged discriminatory restrictions of Pride decorations could be another corporate ploy to divide and retaliate against workers.