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Tim Hortons Pulls Support After Complaints Over Endorsement of Anti-Gay Marriage Organization

Posted by: ~Julie Phineas~ on August 10, 2009.

Same Sex Marriage News is reporting on an article claiming that Canadian coffee and doughnut chain icon Tim Hortons has pulled sponsorship of the anti-gay organization, the National Organization for Marriage.

Tim Hortons was going to sponsor the National Organization for Marriage’s antigay cookout and worship service on August 16 at Aldrich Mansion in Providence, Rhode Island. The article posted on CTV.ca is reporting that an immediate backlash from the gay and lesbian community produced a petition with over 1600 signatures from Change.org.

More from CTV.ca:

By Monday afternoon, the company announced that the Rhode Island franchise would not be sponsoring the event because it would be against its corporate policy to support religious or political groups.

“It has come to our attention that the Rhode Island event organizer and purpose of the event fall outside of our sponsorship guidelines. As such, Tim Hortons can not provide support at the event,” the company said on its website. “We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience this may have caused.

“As a company, our primary focus is on helping children and supporting fundraising events for non-profit organizations and registered charities. For this reason, Tim Hortons has not sponsored those representing religious groups, political affiliates or lobby groups.”

According to the company, more than 95 per cent of its stores are independently owned, and the “final decision to make a donation is at the discretion of the store owner,” says the company’s website.

Michael Jones, the blogger at Change.Org who started the online petition and communications director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, commended the company for its quick response.

“This shows that when a company is called in question to their support of (Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgendered) rights, it’s in their best interest to listen,” Jones told CTV.ca Monday afternoon. “Kudos to the company for responding so quickly.”

Jones said the incident could have damaged the company’s reputation in the LBGT community, but the coffee chain’s response should lessen the impact.

We are encouraging our readers to contact Tim Hortons in gratitude for their swift attention to this matter.