Philz Coffee Brings Back Pride Flags

PHILZ COFFEE BRINGS BACK PRIDE FLAGS
Philz Coffee reaffirms LGBTQIA+ allyship after meaningful dialogue with Team Members and San Francisco Pride

 

SAN FRANCISCO (April 17, 2026) – The Pride flags at Philz Coffee are staying up. Following a series of meaningful, in-person conversations between Philz Coffee CEO Mahesh Sadarangani, Philz Team Members and San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford, Philz Coffee is making its position clear: every Pride flag that is up stays up, and any Pride flag that was previously removed can be put back up.

 

“I made a mistake, and I am sincerely sorry. To our Team Members, to our customers, and to the LGBTQIA+ community that has been with us since the very beginning, the confusion and hurt we caused around our new policy for Pride flags failed you.” said Sadarangani. “The Pride flag is a symbol of safety and belonging for people who don't always find that in the world, and that is not something I want to take away from anyone who walks into a Philz. I had the chance to sit down with San Francisco Pride leaders Suzanne Ford and Jupiter Peraza, both are trans women who led this conversation with grace, directness and a genuine commitment to finding alignment on what matters. I want to be clear about where Philz stands: our Pride flags are staying up. If a Pride flag came down, it can be put back up.”

Going forward, each of the company's 82 stores, representing 82 unique communities, will also feature locally created artwork shaped by the voices of Team Members and the neighborhoods they serve, a living expression of the diverse communities Philz is proud to be part of.

 

“When Philz Coffee removed Pride flags from some of their locations, our community felt it. That kind of action sends a message, especially right now, when LGBTQIA+ people are navigating a climate that feels more threatening by the day,” said San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford. “What gave me reason to engage with Mahesh was something I don't always see from a CEO in this situation: genuine humility. He reached out, listened and understood that this wasn't about optics. It was about whether queer people, and the employees who show up for them every day, feel safe and seen. Mahesh sat with our community members, heard their perspective and apologized, not as a formality but as a person who got it wrong and wanted to make it right. That matters. San Francisco Pride's role is to sit down at the table and find a way forward that reflects our values. I believe Philz is committed to that path, and I look forward to seeing it in their continued actions and allyship.”

 

Philz's longstanding support of the LGBTQIA+ community is not a new commitment, but the foundation on which the company was built. That allyship shows up in actions by the company every year, from the annual Pride Month CommUNITY Campaign, through which Philz donates to LGBTQIA+ organizations chosen directly by its own Team Members, to its DEIB Committee, which remains a diverse group of leaders, including those in the LGBTQIA+ community.

 

ABOUT PHILZ COFFEE
Founded in 2003 in San Francisco, Philz Coffee specializes in customized blends made from responsibly sourced green coffee beans from around the world and skillfully roasted at its Oakland roasting facility. Philz Coffee has remained committed to its mission to Better Days for everyone, every day, through community and high-quality coffee handcrafted one cup at a time. Philz Coffee has over 80 stores across California and Chicago. Philz Coffee can also be purchased in select grocery stores and online and is also available in Philz K-Cup® pods.

 

Media Contact:

Sophia Feleke, SPM Communications

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