{"id":377646,"date":"2026-06-27T22:30:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T22:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/377646\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T22:30:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T22:30:01","slug":"philz-coffee-sponsors-sf-pride-parade-after-uproar-over-pride-flag-removal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/377646\/","title":{"rendered":"Philz Coffee\u00a0sponsors SF pride parade after uproar over Pride flag removal"},"content":{"rendered":"

San Francisco\u2019s Philz Coffee is reaching deep into its own pockets to sponsor the city\u2019s Pride Parade<\/a>, after previously walking back plans to remove rainbow flags from its shop.<\/p>\n

The coffee chain is paying $30,000 orgainzers of the annual event, despite not coming on as sponsor since 2018, the San Francisco Standard<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

\"APhilz brand coffee in Lafayette, California Gado via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The sponsorship comes after Philz caused uproar earlier in the year over\u00a0plans to remove Pride flags from its cafes<\/a>. The initial removal plans were simply aimed at changing how stores look, the company said at the time.<\/p>\n

The chain then reversed course and decided to keep the flags<\/a> after staff revolted and public anger grew.<\/p>\n

\u201cI made a mistake, and I am sincerely sorry,\u201d Philz CEO Mahesh Sadarangani said in a statement.<\/p>\n

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San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford played a role in bringing attention to the flag removal plans, and now the coffee chain is doubling down to appease her and others.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like, OK, we see that you\u2019re addressing the harm you caused, you\u2019re reversing your decision. Would you like to deepen this relationship, and would you like to support San Francisco Pride?\u201d San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford, who played a role in bringing attention to the flag removal plans, told the Standard. \u201cI\u2019m really, I\u2019m very grateful that they did.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"AttendeesAttendees wave flags during Pride Parade on Market Street in San Francisco on Sunday, June 29, 2025. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Sadarangani appeared at a LGBTQ forum<\/a> this week to reflect on the flag controversy and his decisions. He noted that he plans to create a \u201ccommunity wall\u201d in his stores, with the Progress Pride flag incorporated into the display.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a very large community of the LGBTQ that work at Philz and every year we support initiatives within the community,\u201d explained Sadarangani, who has said he is \u201cvery proud\u201d to sponsor the parade.<\/p>\n

The sponsorship comes as the event, and similar ones nationwide<\/a>, suffers from the loss of corporate partnerships. Some have attributed the trend to President Trump\u2019s aggressive stance against DEI policies.<\/a><\/p>\n

Starbucks, for instance, is not returning as a sponsor of the city\u2019s Pride Parade this year. Tech companies synonymous with the Bay Area, like Meta and Google, have not pitched in money for years.<\/p>\n

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