Starbucks gets a lot of heat for selling giant, so-so cups of coffee and wreaking Pumpkin Spice havoc upon the universe. But, we've got to give props where props are due. And, the new commercial released yesterday, starring RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Bianca Del Rio and Adore Delano, deserves many.
Starbucks has long been a vocal advocate for marriage equality. In 2012, the company took an apparent hit after the National Organization for Marriage urged investors to boycott the company for its stance. CEO Howard Schultz held firm, telling those bigoted shareholders: "You can sell your shares in Starbucks and buy shares in another company."
But, this is their first-ever LGBTQ ad — and, they hit it out of the park. It's simple, funny, and doesn't hit viewers over the head with a Very Important Message. Drag queens are entertainers, and so, this ad entertains. PSAs have their place, but this kind of media plays a crucial role in normalizing and integrating the LGBTQ community into mainstream consciousness. Not everyone's had personal experience with drag queens. But, we're all too familiar with Starbucks.