On Wednesday, I learned about something troubling from a newsletter the HRC sent me: a San Franciscan coffee place removed Pride flags? In SF? Below is the full article from HRC.
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Our rainbows and Pride flags are being stolen from us — in schools, workplaces, statehouses, municipal buildings, federal property, military bases and crosswalks. It’s outrageous. And the latest example this week: Philz Coffee, based in San Francisco of all places. On April 9th, Philz Coffee CEO Mahesh Sadarangani dictated Pride flags be removed from all store locations nationwide as part of an effort to create a “more streamlined aesthetic” and maintain a “welcoming environment” for all customers.
The Human Rights Campaign is fighting to make schools, workplaces, and public spaces safe and inclusive for LGBTQ+ people. And we are empowering customers, employees and members of the public to fight back, too, because removing rainbows and Pride flags doesn’t make a space more welcoming — it makes it less safe. And when businesses that once stood with our community go silent, it sends a chilling message: that our visibility is negotiable, that our safety is a branding choice, that corporate interests matter more than civil rights. So please send the Philz Coffee CEO a message today!
This is not just an attack on our community and their employees, it’s a terrible business decision. For more than two decades, HRC has been a highly trusted and respected partner to major employers across industries, including through our Corporate Equality Index and broader workplace inclusion initiatives, to help navigate precisely these kinds of moments. One lesson has remained constant: creating environments that are safe, welcoming, and respectful for all is not only the right thing to do, it is essential to long-term growth of companies like Philz. Philz employees have already spoken out. Over two thousand have signed a petition expressing how this decision has left them feeling “confounded and unsupported.” Now the Human Rights Campaign is mobilizing our members, allies, and the broader public to speak out, too.
This issue is about more than flags and crosswalks. This is about whether LGBTQ+ Americans can expect businesses to stand with us when it matters most — or whether our rights and dignity will be sacrificed for corporate convenience. Please take action with us today and sign the petition. We’re calling on CEO Mahesh Sadarangani to immediately reverse this decision and restore Pride flags to Philz Coffee stores. Thousands have already signed the petition. We need you to add your name right now and send a message today.
We know that when we take action together, we can achieve important results. Just this week, the federal government reinstated Pride flags at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City. Nearly 45,000 HRC members and supporters like you took action opposing the LGBTQ+ erasure at Stonewall. And together we won. This is the power of collective action. You are making a difference. Thank you!
Pride flags aren’t just decorations. They’re declarations. They tell LGBTQ+ people — especially young people — that they belong. That they’re safe. That they’re seen. When companies or politicians remove them, they’re not staying “neutral.” They’re choosing a side — and it’s not ours. Philz Coffee built its brand on community and inclusion. Now it’s time for CEO Mahesh Sadarangani to prove those values weren’t just marketing. Send a message today. Demand that Philz Coffee keep Pride flags up.
Thank you for standing with us.
–HRC Rapid Response
Philz Coffee Removed Pride Flags — In San Francisco?
