Starbucks to become an LGBT 'safe place'
Starbucks announced Wednesday that its Seattle stores are officially "Safe Places" for members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender)聽community.
Partnering with the Seattle Police Department鈥檚 鈥淪afe Place鈥� program, 97 of Starbucks鈥� stores in the Seattle area will finish specific employee training early next week on 鈥渉ow to respond to and engage with LGBT聽victims of violence and to police."
"Safe Place," started by openly gay Seattle Police Officer Jim Ritter, is a campaign against bias crimes. Since May, Officer Ritter has spoken with 650 businesses across Seattle, all of whom have supported the campaign, displaying rainbow-badge decals in their windows.
While the fight for LGBT rights remains in many cities an uphill battle, Seattle appears to be leading the nation in acceptance.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 been turned down by ,鈥� Ritter told the Seattle Times. 鈥淚t is heartening and reinforces that people in Seattle get it and don鈥檛 support hate of any kind.鈥�
Starbucks may serve as precedent for other large companies to support the initiative as well. With 2,000 extra pairs of eyes, Ritter is convinced the program will help 鈥減ut bullies on notice that they .鈥� 聽
Starbucks has shown its support for the LGBT community in other ways recently, at its Seattle headquarters and airing a聽 featuring contestants from "RuPaul's Drag Race," Bianca Del Rio and Adore Delano.
In general, American companies have been supportive of LGBT rights. Some 379 companies filed amicus curiae, or friend of the court, briefs in March supporting the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage. Tech companies stated that lack of support for LGBT rights inhibits them from hiring the best possible candidates.
鈥淎merican corporate capitalism has...become one of the nation鈥檚 most powerful drivers of the social changes that have led to a mainstream acceptance of homosexuality,鈥� reported 海角大神's Harry Bruinius聽in March.
Corporate consultant Farah Parker suggests that a shift in business audience has also affected companies open views on social issues.
鈥淏usinesses can no longer remain completely silent on social issues. As more corporations strive to create communities and not just consumers, the target audience now picks products based on quality and the company's cultural platforms,鈥� she told the Monitor.
