California-based coffeehouse chain Philz Coffee has reversed course after its plan to eliminate LGBTQ+ Pride flags from its locations drew national backlash.
In a statement sent to HuffPost on Friday, Philz Coffee CEO Mahesh Sadarangani issued a statement in which he apologized for “the confusion and hurt” his company had caused.
“The Pride flag is a symbol of safety and belonging for people who don’t always find that in the world, and that is not something I want to take away from anyone who walks into a Philz,” he said.
Sadarangani also noted he’d met with San Francisco Pride leaders Suzanne Ford and Jupiter Peraza, both of whom are transgender women, ahead of his Friday announcement.
“I want to be clear about where Philz stands: our Pride flags are staying up. If a Pride flag came down, it can be put back up,” he added.
