Starbucks CEO Cancels Speech At Anti-Gay Mega-Church PDF Print
Written by Jonathan Higbee | Thursday, 11 August 2011
Tags: starbucks, ceo, howard schultz, cancels, speech, gay, controversy, anti-gay, bigotry, ex-gay, exodus international, willow creek community church, chicago, business

howardsbux

Following New Balance's debacle, Starbucks has woken up and smelled the coffee (hyuck hyuck) and sees its CEO Howard Schultz canceling a speech that had been scheduled to take place Friday at Chicago-area Willow Creek Community Church. Details follow.

Shortly after the speech was scheduled, an online petition popped up with signers urging the CEO to cancel the speech in front of the homophobic megachurch which has a history with Exodus International. 

Asher Huey, the creator of the Change.org petition asking Schultz and Starbucks to distance itself from Willow Creek, told the Chicago Tribune that “the church that is sponsoring the event has a long history of anti-gay persecution."

A spokesperson for Willow insists the church's ties to Exodus were cut in 2009. Now, she says, Willow feels that “coming to faith in Christ doesn’t promise a change in sexual orientation." However, a former member of Willow claims that its senior pastor Bill Hybels still urges the LGBT community to become celibate or risk damnation.

Whatever message Willow Church is currently trying to send about gays and lesbians, Starbucks and Schultz must have considered the appearance too risky to continue forward with the scheduled speech; as of last night, it was announced that Schultz would not speak at Willow, though no reason for the cancellation was provided. 

It is worth noting that Starbucks is still internally investigating an incident stemming from earlier this summer when a manager reportedly fired an openly-gay employee for, well, being openly gay.

Are you satisfied that Starbucks and CEO Schultz canceled the appearance at the not-so-gay-friendly megachurch? 

(Image source: Seattle Weekly)

Comments (22)Add Comment
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written by Me, August 11, 2011
I'm satisfied. Though, I'd be thrilled if they had given a reason... that being because of the foolish homophobia in the church.
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written by Follower of Jesus, August 11, 2011
It would be really nice if folks could realize that just because a behavior is disliked does NOT mean those that partake in the behavior are hated or feared by the folks that don't care for the behavior. For those that don't realize it, Christianity is all about loving people, irregardless of the person's actions. No one is perfect, that is what is so wonderful, when in a Church, you are with a bunch of folks that get it that they are not perfect.
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written by Jesus is a myth!, August 11, 2011
The question to raise is: Why were Starbucks, as a company, and the current CEO, speaking at a mega-church? What purpose does their product serve in face of these folk? If Starbucks, as a company, and /or their CEO feel the need to swap swivel sticks with the likes of religious zealots, then I'll choose to spend my money elsewhere. Whether southern gays choose to believe it or not, we AREN'T gaining any ground with gay rights by aligning ourselves with the religious zealots who would throw us in box cars. As a free-thinker, I'm sick of religious leaders dominating opinions and all the political leaders of this state standing firm in their inability to separate church from state!
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written by Oh My, August 11, 2011
Yes, very satisfied, thank you!
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written by Reggie, August 11, 2011
This only illustrates that narrow-mindedness and judgment exists on both sides of the fence.
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written by Camille, August 11, 2011
It was for a leadership summit.
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written by Simpleamerican, August 11, 2011
What a joke. All of the talk about politicians and dissension and how bad it is for the nation. What happened to respect for others and their viewpoints? How do you stop polarizing people unless you let them speak to one another? Where did the old fashion courtesy go of letting someone else share their views, or even talk to another group who may not share their views so that a calm and reasoned debate can occur. We now judge people in totality based one one thought or idea. This is rediculious. People are complex and unless you give those around you respect even though they may disagree with you on one point, does not mean you may not have many things you agree upon. But you will never find out because you can never thereafter have a discussion that might provide information they were unaware of. The more this type behavior becomes the norm, the lower society as a whole will sink. When one person or a group demands respect because they think a different way than others, this is the first sign of close minded, bigoted individuals. I don't care what race you, your economic status or your sexual preference if you talk with me and treat me with the same respect as I show you. But begin demanding respect and I will just walk away because I have experienced too many times that those same individuals will not provide me any respect for my views. A shame, because we loose the ability to be mature people and learn from each other. And who knows, that might have been a great friend. We all loose with type of discord.
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written by Marina, August 11, 2011
Anti-Gay mega church? Wow, this is really dissapointing. Did you even bother to simply visit Willow Creek's website instead of taking the word of someone who has wrongly accused christians of homophobia before? (Asher Huey also started a petition of the charity Tom's shoes, because the leader accidentally was featured on the same brochure as focus on the family) I go to Willow, and I am friends with many openly gay, accepted couples who also go there. I have also been to many sermons condemning homophobia. We were one of the first large churches to defend GLTB brothers and sisters.
Here's a link to a video of Bill Hybels, senior pastor at Willow Creek, addressing the issue if you don't believe me: http://blog.christianitytoday....ls_on.html
Sorry if I sound angry, but come on guys. Don't write an uneducated, prejudiced article condemning uneducated prejudice. Believe it or not, not all Christians are homophobic idiots.
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written by Brandyn, August 11, 2011
It seems many are fast to throw stones regardless of the issues at hand. There are many in the religious community who claim to be "Christians" who honestly aren't much like "Christ". If we take a look at what Jesus said and did it becomes very apparent how a Christian should act. On the flip side those who are anti-god or church sure seem quick to lump everyone in the same boat and call them religious nuts. It seems a little strange to me (since I have went to the Leadership Summit where Howard was supposed to speak the last couple of years) that those opposed would do something like this. I don't think they have any first hand experience what goes on at an event like this or the messages that are given.
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