Anti-Gay groups call for Starbucks boycott in 2 countries

Malaysia and Indonesia -- An anti-gay, anti-lesbian, anti-bisexual and anti-transgender group known as Muslims have called for a boycott of Starbucks because of their support of LGBT rights. They haven't said so, but this group is also likely to be anti-queer.

The Malaysian group Perkasa supports an orthodox, "by-the-Koran" form of Islam and nationalism. They called on over half a million members to stay out of Starbucks coffee shops.

The second largest mainstream Muslim group in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah, with an estimated 29 million members, said terrible things about Starbucks that will not be repeated here.

These Islamic groups apparently get their Western news a bit later than the rest of us and seem to be reacting to comments made a few years ago by former CEO Howard Schultz in support of gay rights. It drew renewed attention amid an increase in an anti-LGBT climate in both countries still living in the Seventh Century.

Perkasa said the Malaysian government should revoke the trading license held by Starbucks and other companies such as Microsoft and Apple that support LGBT rights and same-sex marriage. 

They also don't like Jews, just as an aside.

Amini Amir Abdullah (his friends call him "Triple A") head Perkasa's Islamic affairs bureau. He said Muslims should stay away from Starbucks because its pro-gay rights policy goes against the 'noble' teachings of Islam and Malaysia's anti-human rights constitution.

Abdullah also hates Hindus, just as an aside.

Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia, punishable by up to 20 years in jail. Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, childhood home of Barack Obama, coincidentally, but there is a case before the Constitutional Court seeking to criminalize gay sex and sex outside of marriage but ironically, not bestiality.

While a Starbucks boycott was popular on Twitter in Indonesia and shares of the bitter coffee purveyors fell sharply this week, its annoying shops in Jakarta are doing well as people continue to purchase overpriced mochachinnofrapacellisasafrassasarmentosas and other pretentious beverages that require a Starbucks University course to order.

According to most coffee experts, Starbucks will not be hurt very much by the boycott, and their coffee will continue to provide the indigestion and heartburn we've all come to love.



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