A San Francisco-based coffee chain that sparked backlash with a policy to remove Pride flags from their stores has reversed its decision over a week later.

“I made a mistake and I am sincerely sorry,” said Mahesh Sadarangani, the chief executive of Philz Coffee, in a statement on Friday. “The Pride flag is a symbol of safety and belonging for people who don’t always find that in the world, and that is not something I want to take away from anyone who walks into a Philz.”

Last week, in a statement to the Guardian, Sadarangani framed the move as a step toward inclusivity. He said other flags would also come down for consistency.

Backlash from Philz Coffee’s workers and customers was swift. An online petition expressing opposition to the policy, which appeared to be started by company baristas, racked up more than 7,300 signatures. The company has built a reputation on being an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. outside of building marked 'department of education'

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Sharkticon@lemmy.zip 28 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

Scott Wiener, a state senator, whose district includes San Francisco, had also slammed the decision on social media and suggested it was related to the recent acquisition of the coffee chain by the private equity firm Freeman Spogli.

Well that does tell everything you need to know doesn't it?

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 12 points 3 months ago

Yeah, that detail stuck out like a sore thumb.

[–] Quexotic@beehaw.org 12 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Toys R Us? Dead. Your local newspaper? Dead. That nursing home your grandma lives in? Understaffed and underwater. Your vet, dentist, and urgent care? All owned by a faceless fund that's never touched a patient. The playbook is always the same: buy it, load it with debt, slash costs, collect fees, and bail. Repeat until the entire industry is a husk. Retail, healthcare, housing, media, restaurants, prisons, foster care, nothing is off limits. If it can be financialized, it will be. Anyway, private equity executives are doing great.

And we definitely shouldn't regulate it because that would totally be communism and we can't have that. /s

[–] kittenroar@beehaw.org 8 points 3 months ago

There oughtta be a law outlawing private equity. It is a cancer.