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Gloria Jean’s leaves bitter taste

By on June 12, 2012

Gloria Jean’s has faced a social media backlash after it emerged the café franchise donated $30,000 to anti-gay marriage group, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL).

Gloria Jean’s was bombarded with boycott messages on its Facebook page and on Twitter after JOY94.9 presenter Doug Pollard revealed the news recently.

In a statement on Facebook yesterday, Gloria Jean’s defended its actions and said it was not religiously affiliated.

“What’s more, it is important to reiterate that we are not religiously affiliated or affiliated to any other beliefs or preferences, including Hillsong,” the statement read.

“By the same token, nor do we discriminate against others based on their beliefs or preferences.

“We are proud of our culture of equality and embrace diversity across our entire business.”

The company donated $30,000 to the ACL in 2010 and was the only business besides a Christian superannuation organisation to donate political funds to the group in that year.

Social media campaigns on Facebook and Change.org have already notched up hundreds of supporters as well as the angry boycott messages posted on its Facebook page.

The coffee chain has been linked with the anti-gay Hillsong Church although the Gloria Jean’s statement denied any connections between the Australian franchises and the church.

Meanwhile, Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich has accused the ACL of scaremongering after a new video linked same-sex marriage to polyamory.

“The ACL’s scaremongering is a sign of desperation and will be rejected by the majority of fair-minded Australians who want their gay friends and family members to be able to share in the values, traditions and joys of marriage as an exclusive, lifelong union,” Greenwich said.

“The international experience proves there is no link between same-sex marriage and polygamy, which is why conservative figures like [beyondblue chairman] Jeff Kennett, [British prime minister] David Cameron, and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key have no problem supporting same-sex marriages.”

Watch the ACL’s video below. What do you think?

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11 Comments

  1. Damian

    June 12, 2012 at 11:23 am


    I don’t understand the video…No I can’t explain why I don’t understand it it just doesn’t tell me what its trying to say.

  2. Brant Harris

    June 12, 2012 at 12:05 pm


    Michael Kirby’s statements are intended to distance same-sex equality from polyamory. He is saying that same-sex marriage should be dealt with as an entirely separate issue. Let’s deal with polyamory if and when this ever becomes an issue for marriage. This issue on the table now is marriage equality for 2 consenting same-sex attracted people.

    Regarding the Greens, they do not have a position on polyamory. As the video points out the Greens want to legislate marriage equality regardless of sexuality of gender identity. Their policy documents say nothing about polyamory. And the quote the ACL uses “guaranteeing” that the Greens will support polyamorous marriage is not from a member of the Greens, so this person has no say on Greens’ policy; it is merely his opinion.

  3. das

    June 12, 2012 at 1:31 pm


    @Damian It’s saying that you’ll turn in to a married swinger if gay marriages are past because what Rachel White said, the other comments are skewed to believing that it’s all about polyamory when it’s not. So what else is new?

  4. Wayne D

    June 12, 2012 at 4:29 pm


    I love how Starbucks is capitalizing on this by supporting marriage equality

  5. eva

    June 12, 2012 at 7:38 pm


    who cares that a company doesn’t support gay marriage!!! if you want them to change their views you need education and tolerance from BOTH parties.

  6. Ben

    June 13, 2012 at 8:42 am


    GJ’s claim to not be affiliated with any religious groups yet they still support evangelical anti gay groups – see here -
    http://thatsmyphilosophy.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/an-open-letter-to-gloria-jeans-coffee-not-buying-the-spin-guys/

  7. Luke

    June 13, 2012 at 11:35 am


    The Gloria Jeans Boycott

    https://www.facebook.com/BoycottGloriaJeans

  8. Metz Ronan

    June 13, 2012 at 12:30 pm


    That “Brisbane Based Polyamorist” happens to be a friend of mine, and that’s totally unauthorised usage of her name and words. They are so hearing from a lawyer.

  9. John

    June 15, 2012 at 8:00 pm


    Gay marriage is a joke….gay people will stuff it up just as badly as straight people. Get over it and stick to civil unions. Marriage is overrated anyway.

  10. Aven

    June 19, 2012 at 12:47 am


    Marriage might be overrated. I might even stuff up just like the straight people. But I would like to have a choice……… so you get over it

  11. Matty

    June 21, 2012 at 12:27 am


    No more gloria jeans for me.
    Enjoy your warm cups of hate.

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