Pride Month row | Starbucks hits back at claims it's banned LGBT decorations in U.S. stores

Starbucks has denied claims that it has banned U.S. employees from displaying pro-LGBT+ decorations in some of its outlets during Pride Month.

The coffee chain said it was “deeply concerned by false information” circulating online and insisted there was “unwavering support” for the LGBT+ community, as a slew of other major brands -  most notably Bud Light owners Anheuser-Busch - continue to face boycotts from some consumers in response to their pro-LGBT+ stances.

The allegations aimed at Starbucks surfaced online when a petition was posted to Coworker.org, in which it was claimed a regional manager has told workers they cannot put up Pride decorations this year.

A coffee shop employee who started the petition reported they had come into work one day in early June - which is Pride Month - to find all of their store’s Pride decorations had been taken down.