Full disclosure: I can’t stand Tim Hortons and their long line-ups for mediocre coffee and, worse, the smug, anti-elite posturing of their loyal customers. That said…
It’s bad enough that bigoted hags like Maggie Gallagher, who heads up the odious National Organization for Marriage, can get any sponsors for their events, but when one of them is among the most widely-recognizable names in Canadian culture? That’s just fucked up.
NOM Rhode Island + Tim Hortons
Please skip your Timbits today and contact them instead to tell them what you think about their sponsorship of an organization entirely devoted to taking away the equal rights of same-sex couples and to ensure that that inequality be enshrined in law. When I called this morning, Tim Hortons Customer Service office seemed a little thrown by the news and was unwilling to comment until they’d investigated to make sure the use of their corporate name and logo had been approved.
UPDATE: Tim Hortons responds in a good way (link courtesy Madge):
Recently, Tim Hortons was approached in Rhode Island to provide free coffee and products for a local event, as we do thousands of times a year across Canada and the United States.
For 45 years, Tim Hortons and its store owners have practiced a philosophy of giving back to the communities in which we operate. 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.
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.
Tim Hortons and its store owners have always welcomed all families and communities to its restaurants and will continue to do so. We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience this may have caused.
16 comments
Did my part and twittered this as well as sent in my disgust in their corporate policies. But if they can fuck up a “extra large earl grey tea and a toasted sesame bagel” (as they often do when I go in) they’ll most likely fuck this up too.
I’ve filled in their request-for-sponsorship form, asking them to donate cash.
I hope they get the irony of what I’ve entered.
I sent them an email. This is pretty terrible.
Revolting. Even worse than their coffee. I’ve sent what I hope is a nasty and negative email. Thanks for bringing this to everyone’s attention.
Whether it was an individual or the whole chain is irrelevent if the logo is on the brochure. This article rightly points out that Timmys is still new in the US, and this will be what people in the US associate it with: http://tinyurl.com/mbxum8
I’m guessing corporate did not give their blessing to this event. ‘Celebrate Marriage & Family Day’?! Code for, ‘Hate on Gays Day’.
Looks like it was an individual franchise, and they’re pulling the sponsorship:
http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/about/2823.html
Unfortunate that they chose such sidestepping language, but clearly the immediate negative response was enough to cancel the sponsorship.
Indeed, and thanks so much for the link.
I’d recommend Dunkin’ Donuts, but they knuckled under when Michelle Malkin unleashed her hordes on them for using a picture that featured Rachel Ray wearing a paisley scarf that looked too much like a kaffieyeh (sp?) to her taste.
One wonders why Miss Gallagher isn’t getting up in John Ensign’s and Mark Sanford’s business instead… I mean the latter ditched his family on *Father’s Day Weekend* of all days…
I was horrified when I read your entry today, so I too sent an email to Tim Norton’s. I’m glad that they’ve backed out, but I’m worried now that Christopher Plante, the head of NOMRI, is going to get a ton of press out of this one.
What cracks me up is that they say it’s not a religious organization, and that gay couples are welcome to attend. Aldrich Mansion, which is where this event will be held, is owned by the RI Catholic Archdiocese. If you called them to book a wedding there, you would be turned away, because you’re gay. Of course, they would also turn away couples of faiths that contradict the Catholic faith.
I’m proud to be from Massachusetts … when will our little neighbor to the south learn?
How is it that I’ve never even HEARD of Tim Hortons until this week?? It’s like the next Charbucks!
Getting coffee from Hortons is like going to prison to get sex. You know you’re going to get it, and it’s going to be rough.
I just went back on to the NOMRI website, and noticed that the posters changed to being sponsored only by the venue and the NOM. I bet the fine people of Rhode Island were harrassing the supporters of this event. I’m sure that their sponsors didn’t drop out, but were too embarrassed to attach their name to this event.
Hi, if you hate the long line ups and just want to get in and out then sign my petition. http://www.timhortonsline.com. Thanks.
This is terrible. I was on another site http://www.timhortonsfranchise.com and see they don’t treat thier franchisees any better. This is disgusting what a giant corporation can do. Spread the word.
Hey Chris, that site was shut down by Tim Hortons, but 2 more neew one are up at http://www.thetdlgroupltd.com and http://www.timhortonslies.wordpress.com I for one will never spend another dime at Tim Hortons.