In a press release fashioned as an AgapePress “news” story, San Diego exgay activist James Hartline calls upon “Christians” (by which he means antigay social-conservative Christians) to boycott Starbucks.
Without any substantiation, he accuses Starbucks of aiding homosexual pedophilia and supporting a national group that opposes defamation. (Presumably Hartline supports defamation.)
Again without substantiation, Hartline accuses one group, Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation, of daring to criticize “faith-based groups that express biblical views or pro-family oppositions to homosexuality.” But Hartline does not identify any of these groups, nor does he define “biblical views” or “pro-family” — he simply assumes that his own prejudices are biblical and pro-family.
Hartline does not indicate where else an antigay coffee drinker could sip a premium coffee or iced latte in a relaxed progressive environment — or why they would want to. Many of Starbucks’ independent rivals are more liberal and anticorporate, while Dunkin’ Donuts — a chain with blue-collar appeal — is based in Massachusetts, the home of gay marriage.
However, Dunkin’ Brands Inc. was recently bought by Bain Capital, and Bain Capital has close ties to Republican governor Mitt Romney, who may be lining up a 2008 presidential campaign bid. In fact, Bain Capital and its principals appear to be generous donors to quite a few Republican state and federal campaign committees and political action committees.
Bain Capital’s partners in the Dunkin’ Brands purchase, The Carlyle Group and Thomas H. Lee Partners, also are generous in their donations to Republican political candidates.
Unless Hartline substantiates his far-fetched accusations against Starbucks, it would appear conceivable that he is smearing a politically moderate coffee chain in order to drive business toward a rapidly expanding rival chain that will become financially friendlier with the GOP while it expands its already strong appeal among cultural conservatives.
(Disclosure: I buy Dunkin’ Donuts by the half-dozen once per week. I buy Starbucks malted mocha frappuccinos three times per week.)
This is totally off topic but anyone who reads this site should watch this movie trailer.
If this coming film isn’t a swipe at “ex-gays” I don’t know what is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCTVCgCzkjA
How rude and ungracious of Hartline — esp. when one considers that Starbucks have “done an Ashcroft” with the poor lady’s infant feeding stations… (Next incarnation she’ll be sporting a burkha.)
Why would such “faith-based” people be drinking concoctions with stimulants in them anyway? It seems to me they should be able to get up in the morning, say a quick prayer, and feel their own rush of energy without the need for stopping for coffee.
However, Dunkin’ Brands Inc. was recently bought by Bain Capital — and Bain Capital has close ties to Republican governor Mitt Romney…
Good Catch.
OMG — now google is directing Starbucks ads our way. Yeah, I know, it helps pay the site that we send no $ to :)Just curious…But what is the “normal” volume of coffee that people order from places such as, out of the air, Starbucks?On the RARE occassion either of us are forced to order at, say, Starbucks et al we ask for the smallest cup to be half filled. And double strength. That makes it the closet they can get to a decent Italian coffee (hey, we’re from Melbourne). Or if in the need for a real shot — Greek/Turkish — about a quarter filled (ditto, we’re from Melbourne)When we’ve attempted this overseas, they look at us as if we are freaks. It takes a lot of effort to get them to NOT FILL THE DAMN BUCKET.Those grotesque enormous things, full of luke-warm brown dishwater, we call “bladder bursters”.
Forget coffee.
I mourned the day that Starbucks stopped serving ‘Chantico’.
Thick, hot, choclate in a 4oz dark brown paper cup.
The sorts of people who ordered it, just looked like friendly, sexy, happier people.
Any other choclate lovers up in here wanna go in for a campaign to bring back Chantico?
Good catch on the exgay-inspired X Men plotline, Scott. I think that might need its own thread.
Or I could try to tie it into Starbucks.
Let’s see, Starbucks, mutant coffee, you have to stand in line forever because the people in front of you are ordering ridiculous crap with whipped cream and caramel toppings, and all you want is a normal cup of coffee.
No sorry. It’s not working. I just have too many Starbucks issues.
“Unless Hartline substantiates his far-fetched accusations against Starbucks, it would appear conceivable that he is smearing a politically moderate coffee chain in order to drive business toward a rapidly expanding rival chain that will become financially friendlier with the GOP while it expands its already strong appeal among cultural conservatives.”
James Hartline isn’t that sophisticated. He’s just a crackpot that appears at times to be suffering from dementia.
I would also suggest that “generous donors to quite a few Republican state and federal campaign committees and political action committees” may not mean much in the liberal/consevative split if we are talking about Massachusetts Republicans. They are not the same breed as Alabama Republicans (for example) and quite often the Massachusetts Republicans are far far more socially liberal than Democrats from other states. You may recall that when Jane Swift ran for re-election for Governor (before she dropped out to let Romney run) she selected an openly gay man to run as her leutenant governor.
Hartline may not be sophisticated, but he is quite loud and growing in popularity among religious-rightists. It seems to me that someone of influence has been subsidizing him and feeding him ideas. I’d like to know who.
Good points regarding Bain and Thomas H. Lee being under the influence of Massachusetts Republicans. (The Carlyle Group is based in Washington.)
Mike, I may be wrong about him but from what I can tell all he does is write a ranting newsletter and spend all his time as a religious political gadfly.
I don’t think he’s taken very seriously in San Diego other than as a nuisance. But right-wing outlets such as AgapePress quote him because he can be counted on to make an anti-gay statement.
But he’s also nuts. And unless you are of the branch of religion that looks favorably on lunacy, it doesn’t take long to see him for what he is. Also, unlike some of the ex-gays he’s unpleasant and very odd looking. So his appeal outside of print references on a slow day isn’t very high.
But he’s certainly someone to keep an eye on.
https://www.hillquest.com/community/jhartline.htm
“Why would such “faith-based” people be drinking concoctions with stimulants in them anyway? It seems to me they should be able to get up in the morning, say a quick prayer, and feel their own rush of energy without the need for stopping for coffee.”
Totally true Kevin. That’s exactly what I was thinking as I read this. I grew up Seventh-day Adventist. They were formed around the same time as Mormons and therefore reacted to many of the same cultural issues and came to the same conclusions about alcohol and caffiene. The result is that Advenstists often get mistaken for Mormons because of the no caffiene and no sex before marriage (there’s also no jewelry, but I don’t know any other Christian group that follows that). No Adventist institution will ever serve caffiene or alcohol. They won’t even put any drinks with caffiene into vending machines on their property. It cracks me up.
“there’s also no jewelry, but I don’t know any other Christian group that follows that”
I don’t know if they still do, but the United Pentecostal Church used to not allow jewelry. The women wore no make-up and usually had their hair in a bun. I think they also were called Pentecostal Holiness, but I think that was a movement rather than a denomination.
The UPC is also strictly monotheistic and does not believe in the trinity of God (oneness pentecostal).
“No Adventist institution will ever serve caffiene or alcohol. They won’t even put any drinks with caffiene into vending machines on their property. It cracks me up.”
To be fair to the Adventists, it isn’t just a caffiene thing. They are really into watching diet and cooking healthy, reducing red meat, heart disease, all of that. And we all know that they’re right (but that didn’t stop me from having a cheeseburger and diet coke for lunch).
To each his own I guess, but stay away from my coffee! And grantdale, I don’t mean that liquid amphetamine they drink in Europe, I’m talking about a nice big mug of southern brew you can enjoy for a while and without any additives to pollute the flavor thank you 🙂
For the record, my local Southern Baptist congregation doesn’t have a problem with coffee (most Christian denominations don’t have a problem with coffee that I know of except those already mentioned) or alcohol, as long as the latter is taken in moderation.
David Roberts
This is ridiculous. The author of this article stated that “Hartline does not indicate where else an antigay coffee drinker could sip a premium coffee or iced latte in a relaxed progressive environment — or why they would want to.” Where out of this did he get that Hartline was endorcing Dunkin’ Donuts?!? I certainly don’t see it. So that kind of kills the rest of the article, or atleast the author’s reason for using that information in the article. I don’t see what it has to do with Hartline. Please be more considerate of what people say/don’t say. I am a strong republican, but what’s even more important, I am a dedicated follower of Christ, and will stand strongly behind His values. Don’t knock people who are anti-gay. I have proof in the Bible to say that it’s wrong. I have gay friends whom I like very much, but I do not at all support their actions. I question businesses that do. It’s my right. It’s Hartline’s right. Get a better story.
Jen I am always amazed at how many anti-gay christians claim to have gay friends. I would love to have contact info for even one because with your attitude I seriously doubt they’d use “friend” to describe their relationship with you. I know a number of anti-gay Christians whom I’m pleasant to and I wouldn’t be surprised if they claim me as their friend, they’d be wrong about that.
If you “very much” liked these gay people you’d be recognizing that they have the same right you do to any pleasurable romantic behavior which doesn’t hurt you or anyone else.
Don’t knock people who are anti-gay.
Excuse me Jen, I thought that was “my right”?
Tell you what — compromise. You keep your anti-gay views to yourself, and we’ll be happy to continue to ignore you. It’s a big World.
And yes Randi: much like the statements that begin “My black friends…” or “My Jewish friends…”. And ya just know that what follows will give every indication to the contrary.
How come we never hear anything from all these “gay friends” of anti-gay people? 😛