Latest news with #NYCPrideMarch
The Intercept
4 days ago
- Business
- The Intercept
Corporate Pride Is Dying. Good.
Participants march with a MasterCard banner at NYC Pride March on June 30, 2024. This year, the company pulled its corporate sponsorship of NYC Pride. Photo: Hailstorm Visuals/Sipa USA via AP Images As Pride month kicks off under a hostile federal government that takes its cues from a homophobic and transphobic far-right movement, the typical steady drip of rainbow-painted logos and feel-good news has been replaced with a stream of coverage of corporations pulling their sponsorship dollars from LGBTQ+ Pride events. This sudden withdrawal presents a material problem in queer circles, as advocates struggle to plan the increasingly bloated festivals that corporate cash has enabled in recent years. It's also an opportunity. The corporate exodus has been swift and financially devastating. According to one Associated Press report, NYC Pride is staring down a $750,000 budget gap. San Francisco Pride is short $200,000 to $300,000. KC Pride in Kansas City lost half its annual budget, about $200,000. Anheuser-Busch alone left St. Louis Pride $150,000 poorer. WorldPride D.C., which was set to be a lavish affair, is out nearly $260,000. And numerous other Prides report sponsorship drops of 40 to 50 percent. But it's far from clear that that money was doing much to advance the interests of LGBTQ+ people. What started as a remembrance of the fury and desperation of the Stonewall riots has slowly been sanitized and co-opted into a series of stale, borderline apolitical affairs. Over the course of the 1990s and early 2000s, companies began dipping their corporate toes into LGBTQ+ pride events. Then came the post-Obergefell gold rush after 2015, when the landmark Supreme Court case legalized gay marriage and brand activism hit its peak. Suddenly, every toothpaste and telecom company wanted a float in the parade. No corporation, no matter its line of business or its track record, was considered too amoral for inclusion. Fast forward to 2025, the political winds have shifted — proving it all the more essential to revive the authentic, full-throated culture of protest that once characterized Pride. The Trump administration has pursued an aggressive anti-LGBTQ+ agenda, including spurious orders against private entities' DEI policies and frontal assaults on the rights of trans people. The National Park Service erased the word 'transgender' from the website for the Stonewall National Monument. At the state and local level, conservative activism to roll back progress on LGBTQ+ rights has reached a boiling point. Over 588 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures so far this year. More than 50 of them have already been passed into law. All of a sudden, the rainbow logos that corporations loved rolling out on the first of June are seen as a massive political and even legal risk. The performative allyship has morphed into silence. Good. Corporate support was a cynical marketing ploy to tap into the perceived disposable income of LGBTQ+ Americans. Corporate support was never about genuine solidarity. Instead, it was largely a cynical marketing ploy to tap into the perceived disposable income of LGBTQ+ Americans, who represent roughly a trillion and a half dollars in annual buying power and have a higher propensity to spend than most other demographics. After spending June pushing rainbow products, corporations go back to business as usual on July 1, often funding the very politicians now empowered to strip us of our rights. Longtime Pride sponsor Anheuser-Busch, for example, has a documented history of donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians, including Florida's Ron DeSantis, architect of the infamous 'Don't Say Gay' bill. Comcast, another formerly dependable pride sponsor, has poured money into the campaigns of figures like Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., both known for their anti-LGBTQ+ stances. This was never allyship; it was a highly lucrative protection racket. Corporations' money bought social legitimacy on all sides at a fraction of the cost of most feel-good advertising campaigns. The money wasn't just hypocritical — it actively damaged the character of Pride. What were once fiery political marches have become drab and soulless affairs. The need to be brand-friendly sanitized queer expression and pushed any semblance of real human rights activism to the margins. This phenomenon was made clear on several occasions last year, when pride demonstrations in cities like Denver, Boston, and Philadelphia were roiled by protests against the genocide in Gaza and calls for Pride organizers to reject donations from large corporations complicit in the violence — calls that were ultimately rebuffed. The aesthetic of Pride shifted from homemade signs and risqué outfits to an endless stream of corporate logos, turning what were once human rights marches into mobile billboards. The influx of corporate cash, and the fundraising efforts involved in raising it, has also elevated those more palatable to corporate sponsors to prominent and influential positions within LGBTQ+ communities. Within the broader LGBTQ+ nonprofit world, leadership increasingly mirrors the profiles of the corporate donors they court. That's no coincidence. Corporate giving comprises as much as 15 to 20 percent of the funding these organizations receive in a given year and amounted to over $40 million in 2022. The pursuit of that cash has left organizers stuck in a doom loop of prioritizing fundraising and palatable messaging over any kind of meaningful confrontational activism. This devil's bargain with big business has devastated our community's ability to be good allies to those suffering from corporate abuses. Crucially, this devil's bargain with big business has devastated our own community's ability to be good allies to those suffering from corporate abuses. How vigorously can an LGBTQ+ organization in Columbus, reliant on a hefty sponsorship check from Walmart, critique that corporation's rampant employee abuse or the systematic practices it uses to squeeze distributors and destroy smaller competitors? When PepsiCo, a company now scaling back its NYC Pride support, is simultaneously embroiled in controversies over forced labor and devastating water exploitation, does their past generosity buy them silence or a gentler critique from LGBTQ+ advocates who might otherwise join environmental and labor activists in demanding accountability? Or consider Citigroup, a bank with a rap sheet of predatory lending accusations that played a starring role in the 2008 financial crisis, which is now also scaling back Pride support. What, aside from their money, justified welcoming them into the tent in the first place? And what about tech giants like Meta, whose social media monopoly and increasingly predatory algorithms have spurred homophobic and transphobic hate and pushed a generation of young people — and especially LGBTQ+ young people — into mental health crises? Will their newfound coziness with the right spur LGBTQ+ people to not just cut ties, but reconsider the role Big Tech is playing in the unmooring of our society and mobilize against it? (None of the corporations mentioned in this article responded to The Intercept's requests for comment on their charitable practices or past controversies.) The corporate retreat from Pride in 2025 will be painful, especially in the short-term. Some events will be canceled. Fewer baubles will be passed around. And people will face a fresh wave of anxiety over seeing the business community withdrawing at the same time the government is weaponized against us. But this is a necessary wake-up call. It creates an opening to rebuild Pride from the ground up. Already, grassroots giving has helped fill some of the gaps major pride organizations are facing. Pride can once again be funded by and accountable to the community it serves, centered on the ongoing fight for a more holistic form of liberation, and unafraid to bite the corporate hands that were never actually feeding us.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
REPORT: Mastercard, Nissan, PepsiCo, and Citi Pull Back on NYC Pride March Sponsorships
Mastercard, Nissan, PepsiCo, and Citi will not sponsor the 2025 New York City Pride March. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, Mastercard is not renewing its sponsorship of the NYC Pride March this year, but still plans to participate in the event. The financial services giant has previously served as a "platinum," or high-level, parade sponsor, as well as the March's go-to payment partner for the past few years. Mastercard has supported Heritage of Pride, the nonprofit organization that organizes the NYC March and other LGBTQ events, for more than a decade, according to The Journal. Mastercard declined to comment on the record about its participation in the NYC Pride March. PepsiCo did not respond to request for comment in time for publication. Citi confirmed to ADWEEK it is also not sponsoring the NYC event, but plans to march and show up in other ways. The company's Citi Pride Inclusion Network, which comprises Citi employees who lead Pride efforts in various chapters around the country, will sponsor 'a range of Pride Month celebrations and [participate] in local parades around the globe,' per a brand spokesperson. 'Our New York Pride chapter is finalizing plans to march in the NYC Pride parade with one of our partner organizations, and we look forward to the event,' said the brand. For Nissan, the decision to "not sponsor any Pride parades" was made as the brand evaluates its marketing and sales budget for the year. "We are currently reviewing all marketing and sales spending, including auto shows, sports properties, and other entertainment activations, to maximize both efficiency and breakthrough effectiveness," a spokesperson confirmed to ADWEEK. On the other hand, Target, which pulled some of its Pride merch in 2023 due to backlash, confirmed to ADWEEK that it "is sponsoring NYC pride this year and local Pride events around the country.' The Real Risks the DEI Retreat Poses to Marketers The news comes three months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to "end radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing." According to Gravity Research's Pride Pulse Poll, 39% of companies that participated said they are scaling back Pride engagements in 2025, while 61% said pressure from the Trump administration is driving them to reevaluate their Pride investment and involvement.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NYC Pride unveils grand marshals for 2025 march
NEW YORK — Organizers of the NYC Pride march announced Friday the grand marshals for this year's event, one of the largest and oldest LGBTQ+ marches in the world. This year's lineup includes Karine Jean-Pierre, the trailblazing former White House press secretary; Marti Gould Cummings, the first openly nonbinary candidate to run for office in New York City; and Lina Bradford, the queer nightlife superstar-turned fierce trans rights advocate, known on dance floors across the nation as DJ Lina. 'We're honored to put a spotlight on this incredible group of doers and change-makers as we come together in solidarity, celebration and protest,' NYC Pride Co-Chair Michele Irimia said. The group of marshalls also includes Elisa Crespo, the executive director of the Stonewall Community Foundation, and a collective of trans and queer teachers focused on trans joy and social justice known as Trans formative Schools. 'Their participation is a powerful example of the enduring spirit of our community,' Irimia added. The work of the impressive group of outspoken advocates reminds LGBTQ+ people in New York and beyond that the community's strength comes from unity, according to NYC Pride Co-Chair Kazz Alexander. '[They] remind us that we are stronger when we are united in our fight for equality and liberation,' Alexander told the Daily News in an email. 'They reflect the understanding that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights.' Jean-Pierre, a native New Yorker who broke barriers as the nation's first Black and openly queer press secretary, celebrated the announcement, noting that being named as one of the year's grand marshals is 'more than an honor — it's a homecoming.' 'New York is where I found my voice, where I stepped into the light, and where I first discovered the strength of community as an openly queer person,' she said. 'Now, at a time when unity is more vital than ever, we march — hand in hand, arm in arm — not just in resistance, but in remembrance, in celebration, and in unshakable pride. We are here. We rise. We endure.' Fellow grand marshal Cummings echoed the sentiment, reflecting on Pride's original mission. 'Pride is a protest, it began as a riot, and we must hold onto that,' Cummings, who uses they/them pronouns, said. 'Trans people are being vilified and eradicated. As grand marshal, I am honored and will use this platform in any way that I can to bring awareness to the grave issues impacting the most vulnerable within our community,' they said. The 2025 NYC Pride March is set to kick off at noon on Sunday, June 29. Embodying this year's theme — Rise Up: Pride in Protest — millions of marchers and spectators are expected to flood the streets of Manhattan in a defiant celebration of the movement's roots, advocacy and solidarity, organizers said. _____
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NYC Pride unveils grand marshals for 2025 march
Organizers of the NYC Pride march announced Friday the grand marshals for this year's event, one of the largest and oldest LGBTQ+ marches in the world. This year's lineup includes Karine Jean-Pierre, the trailblazing former White House press secretary; Marti Gould Cummings, the first openly nonbinary candidate to run for office in New York City; and Lina Bradford, the queer nightlife superstar-turned fierce trans rights advocate, known on dance floors across the nation as DJ Lina. 'We're honored to put a spotlight on this incredible group of doers and change-makers as we come together in solidarity, celebration and protest,' NYC Pride Co-Chair Michele Irimia said. The group of marshalls also includes Elisa Crespo, the executive director of the Stonewall Community Foundation, and a collective of trans and queer teachers focused on trans joy and social justice known as Trans formative Schools. 'Their participation is a powerful example of the enduring spirit of our community,' Irimia added. The work of the impressive group of outspoken advocates reminds LGBTQ+ people in New York and beyond that the community's strength comes from unity, according to NYC Pride Co-Chair Kazz Alexander. '[They] remind us that we are stronger when we are united in our fight for equality and liberation,' Alexander told the Daily News in an email. 'They reflect the understanding that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights.' Jean-Pierre, a native New Yorker who broke barriers as the nation's first Black and openly queer press secretary, celebrated the announcement, noting that being named as one of the year's grand marshals is 'more than an honor — it's a homecoming.' 'New York is where I found my voice, where I stepped into the light, and where I first discovered the strength of community as an openly queer person,' she said. 'Now, at a time when unity is more vital than ever, we march — hand in hand, arm in arm — not just in resistance, but in remembrance, in celebration, and in unshakable pride. We are here. We rise. We endure.' Fellow grand marshal Cummings echoed the sentiment, reflecting on Pride's original mission. 'Pride is a protest, it began as a riot, and we must hold onto that,' Cummings, who uses they/them pronouns, said. 'Trans people are being vilified and eradicated. As grand marshal, I am honored and will use this platform in any way that I can to bring awareness to the grave issues impacting the most vulnerable within our community,' they said. The 2025 NYC Pride March is set to kick off at noon on Sunday, June 29. Embodying this year's theme — Rise Up: Pride in Protest — millions of marchers and spectators are expected to flood the streets of Manhattan in a defiant celebration of the movement's roots, advocacy and solidarity, organizers said.
Forbes
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
New York City Pride's 2025 Theme Will Be 'Rise Up: Pride In Protest'
Two people embrace in the fountain at Washington Square Park after the New York City Pride March on ... [+] June 30, 2024, in New York City. New York City's 2025 Pride celebrations will have a topical theme this year. On Wednesday, March 19, Heritage of Pride, which organizes the NYC Pride March (colloquially referred to as the Pride parade) and surrounding events, announced the 2025 theme, 'Rise Up: Pride in Protest.' This follows the 2024 Pride theme of 'Reflect. Empower. Unite' and 2023's theme 'Strength in Solidarity.' This year's theme encompasses to origins of NYC Pride, dating back to the pivotal Stonewall Uprising in June 1969, followed by the first ever Pride March in June 1970. The evnets tie directly to today's political climate, which is becoming increasingly hostile to the LGBTQ+ community via legislation targeting transgender people and efforts to remove same-sex marriage rights, among other challenges. A National Park Service ranger places rainbow flags on the fence at the Stonewall National Monument ... [+] in the West Village neighborhood of Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan, New York City on June 19, 2019. The Stonewall Inn, a functioning bar and the site of the eponymous six day uprising in 1969, was designated as a national monument in 2016 by then-President Barack Obama. In 2024, the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center opened next door, welcoming guests to immerse themselves in LGBTQ+ history via an interactive exhibit. This past February, the National Park Service removed any references to transgender and queer people from the Stonewall National Monument website as per directives by President Trump. 'This year, more than ever, we acknowledge that Pride can be celebrated in many ways, but at the heart of our mission, we recognize that we must also remain steadfast in protest,' said Kazz Alexander, NYC Pride Co-Chair. 'The challenges we face today, particularly in this political climate, require us to stand together in solidarity. We must support one another, because when the most marginalized among us are granted their rights, all of us benefit. Pride is not merely a celebration of identity—it is a powerful statement of resistance, affirming that justice and equity will ultimately prevail for those who live and love on the margins.' Ben Eisenstadt from New York and Paul Staisiunas from New York kiss for photographers in front of ... [+] the Stonewall Inn at New York City Pride on June 26, 2022. This year's annual NYC Pride March, among the largest LGBTQIA+ Pride marches worldwide, and PrideFest, the largest LGBTQIA+ street festival in New York, will take place on Sunday, June 29. The full roster of 2025 Pride events and Grand Marshals will be announced soon. NYC Pride is also actively looking for volunteers to help with the Pride March, PrideFest, and Youth Pride, one of few Pride events in the country aimed at serving the younger LGBTQ+ community. Last year, over 2.5 million people attended NYC Pride. 'In the face of increasing discrimination, we must continue to push forward,' said Michele Irimia, NYC Pride Co-Chair. 'As New Yorkers, we know: Pride is resistance, Pride is activism and, most importantly, Pride is for everyone. 'Rise Up: Pride in Protest' reminds us that the fight for equality is far from over.' People protest the removal of the word 'transgender' from the Stonewall National Monument website ... [+] during a rally outside of The Stonewall Inn on February 14, 2025 in New York City. Recent years have seen a variety of Pride events across New York City unaffiliated with the nonprofit Heritage of Pride organization, which some find controversially corporate due to major brand sponsorships. Since 2019, the Reclaim Pride Coalition has organized the Queer Liberation March, an activist-run event the same day as NYC Pride, offering an alternative event with a strong ethos of. "No corps, no cops, no bs!' Thousands of people attend the annual event. In 2024, the Queer Liberation March's theme was 'Fight For Queer Youth', inspired by the then-looming Project 2025. The 2025 theme has yet to be announced, but the coalition is seeking organizers and volunteer marshals to help with the event.
