Starbucks union says dozen of stores not allowed to decorate for pride month

Starbucks Workers United, the union of the coffee's chains employees, declared Tuesday that dozens of its stores nationwide have not permitted their employees to set up decorations for pride month.

Baristas in at least 22 states have reported instances in which local stores forbid employees from decorating for pride month, the union asserted, per CNBC. The rationale has differed by store, with some attributing such decisions to a store hour shortage to schedule decorating, others to safety concerns due to recent backlash against other companies, or sentiment that the season does not represent everyone.

Starbucks itself has denied any change in policy and contended that, as always, individual store managers and their employees have discretion on how or if to celebrate the season.

"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," the company told the outlet.

The company has long held a a reputation of support for LGBT initiatives, but the apparent wavering of local store managers on pride decorations comes at a time when major companies have experienced considerable backlash over their promotion of pride-related materials.

Target has recently come under fire and sustained a marked drop in stock price following a boycott over its offering of "tuck-friendly" swimsuits while beer brand Bud Light has seen its sales plummet amid outrage over its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.