Christian Activist Highlights Starbucks’ Strong Support for Homosexuality

Pro-Family Advocate Thinks Fellow Believers Should Reconsider Sipping From Java-Giant’s Cup

By Mary Rettig – May 10, 2006

(AgapePress) – A Christian activist in California who has left the homosexual lifestyle says the coffee giant Starbucks has some troubling ties with homosexual activism.

James Hartline, a former homosexual, notes that the first time he became aware of Starbuck’s support for homosexuals was during a local San Diego “gay pride” festival. He says the company chose not to pull its sponsorship from the event, even after being notified that convicted pedophiles were involved in the homosexual celebration.

Also, Hartline asserts, Starbucks is a big supporter of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD. And this year, when that group held an awards ceremony “to honor Brokeback Mountain and homosexual, lesbian and transsexual success stories in the media,” he says, “Starbucks was a major corporate sponsor again of that event.”

GLAAD has an extensive history of doing two things, the Christian activist contends. The group works tirelessly to promote homosexuality and “gay,” lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual acceptance in the media, he says, and “additionally, from a political perspective, they have a long history of going after and boycotting Christian enterprises — groups that are opposed to homosexuality.”

GLAAD activists target faith-based groups that express biblical views or pro-family oppositions to homosexuality and “they attack them,” Hartline contends. And when he sees a company like Starbucks supporting the homosexual group and others like it, he questions why people of faith would want to support the corporate giant with their consumer dollars.

Hartline says Starbucks does not franchise to individual business owners as a rule, which means a portion of all its sales ends up in the corporate coffers, and a portion of that money goes on to be distributed to homosexual activist organizations. In light of this, he feels Christians consumers need to make a choice between convenience and conviction.

There are plenty of places where believers can get coffee, not to mention that they can make it at home, the California Christian points out. “So it really comes down to the issue of Christians giving their money to Starbucks in light of the fact that they have other options,” he says.