Following an uproar from angry Twitter users, Tim Hortons has rescinded its sponsorship of an event being put on by an anti-gay marriage group in Rhode Island this Sunday.
The controversy was sparked by an article posted Sunday at ProvidenceDailyDose.com. The article called out Tim Hortons for its sponsorship of Celebrate Marriage & Family Day, a fundraising event for the Princeton, N.J.-based National Organization for Marriage, which advocates against gay marriage.
Xtra.ca and MartiniBoys.com quickly posted stories Monday morning on Tim Hortons’ links to the anti-gay fundraiser and within hours hundreds of Twitter posts had emerged with the tag #timhortonsfail. While some users urged others not hold the entire chain responsible for what is likely a sponsorship approved by one local franchisee, many others were outraged and calling for a boycott.
Comments read, “This makes my croissant less delicious,” “No Timmie’s for me anytime soon,” and “Starbucks may not be fair trade, but at least they’re queer positive.” Many users urged their followers to sign the petition posted on Change.org, which had already amassed more than 1,500 signatures before Tim Hortons had a chance to respond.
Just after 1:30 pm on Monday, Tim Hortons announced it would be pulling its sponsorship of the NOM event, and released a statement saying, “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 cannot provide support at the event.”
The statement continues, “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.”
A representative from Tim Hortons declined to provide any further commentary and would not reveal who had initially approved the sponsorship.
