Pride events across the US are facing significant financial shortfalls due to a withdrawal of corporate sponsorships. Several major corporations, including Comcast, Anheuser-Busch, and Diageo, have stopped supporting Pride events ahead of the summer celebrations.
San Francisco Pride is facing a $200,000 budget gap after losing five major donors, while Kansas City’s KC Pride lost about $200,000 – roughly half its annual budget. New York’s Heritage of Pride, which organizes NYC Pride and other LGBTQ+ events, has narrowed a $750,000 budget gap by fundraising to secure additional support.
In response to the corporate withdrawal, many Pride organizations have canceled some dance parties, reduced stage numbers, and hired less expensive headliners. However, core celebrations will continue as planned, with San Francisco’s theme being “Queer Joy is Resistance,” New York’s “Rise Up: Pride in Protest,” and Boston’s “Here to Stay!”
The shift reflects a changing cultural landscape, where companies are adjusting to shifting consumer preferences. Research suggests that many Americans no longer want corporations taking positions on social issues, citing the need for personal autonomy.
Some companies have retreated from “brand activism” after facing backlash from conservative groups and the White House. Target, which had previously curtailed its DEI initiatives, now offers only some Pride products online and has severed ties with Twin Cities Pride.
Despite corporate withdrawal, individual donations and local funding have increased following the event’s financial struggles. The US Pride community is relying on grassroots support to sustain its events and celebrate diversity.
As President Donald Trump continues to roll back LGBTQ+ rights and protections, Pride organizers are using the occasion to reiterate their commitment to inclusivity and resistance. “If you come to Pride this year, that’s a revolutionary act,” said Suzanne Ford, executive director of San Francisco Pride.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/pride-parades-companies-dropping-out-1f41c6bc5f61dc96fbfb34ca66fb18b3