Monday update:

Good work, everyone! Tim Hortons has responded to the hundreds of emails and phone calls they’ve received over this:

Tim Hortons responds to inquiries about Rhode Island event sponsorship

Recently, Tim Hortons was approached in Rhode Island to provide free coffee and products for a local event, as we do thousands of times a year across Canada and the United States.

For 45 years, Tim Hortons and its store owners have practiced a philosophy of giving back to the communities in which we operate. As a company, our primary focus is on helping children and supporting fundraising events for non-profit organizations and registered charities.

For this reason, Tim Hortons has not sponsored those representing religious groups, political affiliates or lobby groups.

It has come to our attention that the Rhode Island event organizer and purpose of the event fall outside of our sponsorship guidelines. As such, Tim Hortons can not provide support at the event.

Tim Hortons and its store owners have always welcomed all families and communities to its restaurants and will continue to do so. We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience this may have caused.

Awesome. Thank you, Tim Hortons!

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I’m bored and hanging out on Twitter (it’s IRC 2.0!), and came across this link saying that Tim Hortons is sponsoring the National Marriage Organization’s Rhode Island “Marriage Day“, an event described as:

.. a great opportunity to take a stand for marriage as it was created: between a man and a woman.  Our goal is to esteem marriage to its proper place in society and make a statement that Rhode Islanders believe strongly in this cherished institution.

Tim Hortons is a Canadian icon, and to have their name used to promote something so horrible is just repulsive. They have a “contact us” form on their website, so I sent in a note:

I am incredibly disappointed to see that Tim Hortons is sponsoring the National Organization Marriage’s Rhode Island “Marriage Day” event on Sunday, August 16th. Tim Hortons is a Canadian icon, and to have the name associated with an organization dedicated to denying basic human rights is truly distasteful. In addition, Tim Hortons has a stellar reputation for truly doing good in the community – the NOM does little more than spread hate under the guise of “the wholesome family”. I truly hope this was an oversight on your part, or there is SOME other explanation as to why you would lend your name to something so negative and abhorrent.

If you find this sponsorship as disgusting as I do, consider letting them know. I might love me an Iced Cappuccino on a hot summer day, but I won’t be refreshed at the cost of basic human rights or decency.

It’s been really quiet around here lately – it feels like I’m talking to myself. I’ve also been waking up sad for the last week or so, and feeling kind of lonely. Add everything together, and I am one glum chum. It’s most likely the weather – I don’t mind the cooler days and rain, but the sun gives me a happy that I could really use right now.

Is there anybody out there?