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Conservatives Attack Starbucks Holiday Cup's 'Gay Agenda'

Starbucks

The theory that the cup's illustration of hands holding belongs to a lesbian couple has caught fire on social media.

By Daniel Reynolds
November 17 2017 3:18 PM EST

Another year, another controversy over a Starbucks holiday cup.

This season, Twitter is convinced that the cup features a same-sex couple holding hands. The illustration in question is part of this year's "Give Good" theme, which lets customers color in their coffee cups.

BuzzFeed News first reported on the theory, pointing out the parallels between a Starbucks ad featuring hand-holding women and the hands on the cup itself.

"While people who follow both Starbucks holiday cup news and LGBT issues celebrated the video, the ordinary Starbucks customer probably didn't realize the cup might have a gay agenda," writer Vanessa Wong stated.

"I can attest to the lesbianism of The Hands," confirmed a gay colleague of Wong's.

Starbucks Cups 2

Starbucks did not confirm or deny "the lesbianism of The Hands." In a statement, the coffee company said, "Each year during the holidays we aim to bring our customers an experience that inspires the spirit of the season, and we will continue to embrace and welcome customers from all backgrounds and religions in our stores around the world."

However, a tweet from the verified Starbucks account did appear to lend some credibility to the theory.

In past years, conservatives have criticized Starbucks for the "war on Christmas" and being too secular in its holiday designs. Many also denounced the new cup for its possible "gay agenda," with some promoting the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks.

And on the other side of the spectrum, there are those who believe the cup should be gayer.

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