Change.org's Internet Activism Gets Tim Hortons to Pull Sponsorship of Anti-GLBT Event

An Anti-GLBT group, National Organization for Marriage, is holding a rally today in Rhode Island in support of traditional marriage. The rally is going to serve as a local platform for Maggie Gallagher, the national leader of the organization, to tell fellow bigots in Rhode Island why straight men and women should enjoy more rights than gay Americans.

The encouraging thing about this is what happened after Change.org got a hold of some information linking the Canadian coffee shop Tim Hortons to sponsorship of the event.

Last Sunday, Change.org published the story, and the feedback funneled to Tim Hortons was amazing, prompting the company to take action:

Folks, this is huge. In the past 17 hours, we've had more than 1,600 folks send letters to Tim Hortons, asking why a franchise in Rhode Island was sponsoring an anti-LGBT festival hosted by the National Organization for Marriage. Well, guess what? Tim Hortons has answered our emails, loud and clear. Here's the message that just came in from their company headquarters.

Tim Hortons responds to inquiries about Rhode Island event sponsorship

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.

Yet another example of the value and possibilities of internet-based activism. Congrats to Change.org and to those who wrote the company. Consider thanking Tim Hortons for standing up for equal rights by contacting them here.