Costa Coffee’s cartoon character with top surgery scars and blue hair drinking a coffee is tiny on a take-out coffee cup.
But “gender-critical” voices still made threats to boycott the British coffee chain. Anti-trans campaigner Maya Forstater said,
The main issue here is promoting and glamourizing self-harm and the idea that young women should have their breasts removed.”
Forstater won a case in 2022 which found she was discriminated against due to her “gender-critical” beliefs.
Trans-inclusive group LGBWithTheT explained that the drawing shows there is widespread support for the trans community. The group said on X,
Have you noticed no matter how hard the haters bash their bigot bong… The support becomes more and more clear for all to see.”
Have you noticed that no matter how hard the haters bash their bigot bong…
— LGBWithTheT (@LGBwiththeT) July 31, 2023
The support becomes more and more clear for all to see?!
Thank you to @CostaCoffee ❤️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Up yours to the numpties who will no doubt whinge about it. #BoycottCostaCoffee pic.twitter.com/9NsaeoGBHp
Saw Costa was trending. Turned out it’s because they have an illustration of a trans masc person and all the bigots are losing their minds about trans people existing. Great advertisement for Costa really. Thanks everyone, it’s a lovely illustration. ✌️ #boycottcostacoffee pic.twitter.com/pCQjN2bbNc
— Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir (@UglaStefania) July 31, 2023
Another X user added,
Saw Costa was trending. Turned out it’s because they have an illustration of a trans masc person and all the bigots are losing their minds about trans people existing.”
A Costa spokesman said in a statement to The Times,
At Costa Coffee we celebrate the diversity of our customers, team members and partners.
We want everyone that interacts with us to experience the inclusive environment that we create, to encourage people to feel welcomed, free and unashamedly proud to be themselves.
The mural, in its entirety, showcases and celebrates inclusivity.”
In 2022 the brand partnered with the charity Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline ahead of Pride month.
Bud Light, among other brands have faced furious backlash. Bud collaborated with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney and Kid Rock, shot up Bud Light cans with an assault weapon.
Some people (some with TV shows) STILL can’t get over the fact that trans people exist.
(via PinkNews)
