Latest news with #Pridefest
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
FBI email instructs employees not to promote Pride Month on bureau time: 'Focused only on our core mission'
FIRST ON FOX: Agents and directors at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received an email from leadership on Thursday instructing them not to participate in Pride Month in their professional capacity, a departure from the tone of the Biden administration's bureau. "I've received several questions about the FBI's stance on Pride Month and what related activities FBI divisions and employees should or should not participate in," FBI Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson said in an email obtained by Fox News Digital addressed to assistant directors in charge and special agents in charge on Thursday morning. "So, I want to take the opportunity to make FBI leadership's expectations clear: There should be no official FBI actions, events, or messaging regarding Pride Month." The email explains that employees are "free to do as you like" in their "personal capacity" or "on your own time." 'Radical' Fbi Practices On Dei 'Endangered' Americans, Blackburn Says In Letter Demanding Answers From Wray "But on FBI time, using FBI resources and your Bureau affiliation, you and your divisions are expected to take no official actions or issue any specific messaging," Williamson said, adding that the "stance in no way lessens the FBI's commitment to serve and protect every American in our country or welcoming colleagues from all walks of life." Read On The Fox News App "What it does mean is ensuring that the American people see we are focused only on our core mission." Trump Doj Moves Funds Used For Transgender Projects, Dei To Support Law Enforcement The FBI did not respond to a request for comment. Shifting away from official celebrations of Pride Month represents a shift from messaging during the Biden administration, which saw several examples of the bureau promoting the month, including taking part in a Kansas City Pridefest and mentioning Pride Month in press releases. The Biden administration faced criticism from conservatives in recent years after the White House and departments vocally supported Pride Month, which is observed for the month of June, with formal celebrations. Then-President Joe Biden hosted a "Pride Month 2023" event on the White House lawn, decorating the area with rainbow motifs and the "Progress Pride flag." "Today, the #FBI raised the #pride flag at our headquarters in support of our #LGBTQ colleagues," the FBI posted on social media in June 2021. "We thank them for their contributions to the FBI and the country. #PrideMonth." The email comes after the Trump administration has shifted away from diversity, equity and inclusion messaging and programs in federal government, instead focusing on meritocracy and the individual missions of departments. "Let good cops be cops—and rebuild trust in the FBI," FBI Director Kash Patel said in his first statement after being sworn in to lead the article source: FBI email instructs employees not to promote Pride Month on bureau time: 'Focused only on our core mission'
Axios
22-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Scoop: Corporations pull sponsorships from Virginia's largest Pride event
Two corporate sponsors have pulled out of Pridefest, the largest LGBTQ+ celebration in Virginia, organizers tell Axios. The big picture: It's part of a nationwide pivot for corporate America in which many companies that previously embraced Pride are walking back support following President Trump's crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Threat level: "We're at a point now, if more pulled out, it's going to make a big difference," James Millner, the director of Virginia Pride, tells Axios. "This is the first time — and this is my 11th year doing this — where I really had this feeling of constant uncertainty about what was going to happen." State of play: Corporate sponsors account for about half of the funding for Pridefest, which has been a Richmond fixture for nearly 50 years and hosted by Virginia Pride since 2007. The free festival, scheduled for September at Midtown Green instead of June, regularly brings tens of thousands of people to the city. And it usually has over 30 sponsors to help cover the $300,000 to $400,000 in estimated costs, Millner says. Sponsorship packages range from $2,500 to more than $30,000. Zoom in: Millner declined to name the companies out of respect for the yearslong relationships built, the need to offer grace "in this moment," and because conversations with sponsors are still ongoing. But he tells Axios that the sponsors that pulled out shared they had to because of changes in their company's DEI policies or due to pressure following Trump's anti-DEI orders. Other sponsors are reducing their funding to Pridefest because they're also supporting WorldPride in D.C. in June. By the numbers: Nationwide, 39% of corporations are scaling back external Pride Month engagements this year, according to Gravity Research data, reports Axios' Eleanor Hawkins. This is a sharp increase from last year, when only 9% said they were changing their external Pride engagement. Roughly 6 in 10 companies cite the Trump administration as the top reason for this change, while conservative activists and conservative policymakers come in second and third, per Gravity Research. What we're watching: While organizers are planning to ramp up security this year, Millner says they'll have to "make some big adjustments" if more sponsors drop out.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local bar boycotts Anheuser-Busch, support Pride St. Louis
ST. LOUIS – Rehab Bar and Grill, a longtime St. Louis Pridefest partner, is just one of the local establishments pushing back against Anheuser-Busch's decision to pull sponsorship from the city's Pride festival this year. The bar has decided to stop carrying AB products altogether. In a statement released by Pride STL, they say this decision from Rehab comes from a place of solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. Moxie is a drag queen and the Show Director for Rehab, which hosts multiple drag shows each week. 'Just because there's so much politically going on, we also, as a queer bar here in St. Louis, want to make sure we're representing ourselves and honoring the fact that we support Pride St. Louis and unfortunately if they can't support us, then we can't support them and that's just how it works,' Moxie said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Other businesses are following Rehab Bar and Grill, like Greenfinch Theatre and Dive, who posted on social media that they've already purchased the products to sell. They're donating 25% of the products' sales to support the Metro Trans Umbrella Group. Lynn Stewart was at Rehab's Wednesday night show. Being a community ally, Stewart shared with FOX 2 about the sponsorship loss. 'Actually, I think it'll be a good thing for the PrideFest because all of these folks who are coming in now. A lot of the bars here in the Grove have said, we're not going to carry it.' Pride St. Louis did not ask for this boycott but says they are both honored and humbled by the unwavering support of the community. Mom's Deli relocates to new location, set to reopen soon PrideFest claims that for decades, Anheuser-Busch has profited with its association with LGBTQIA+ events, not only financially but also socially. They feel that now in particular, corporate allyship is at its most critical. 'We are their hometown pride; we are literally five blocks down the street,' said Marty Zuniga, Pride STL president. This festival is five blocks down the street from their world headquarters. I can understand business choices, marketing budgets, and situations like that occur, and you have to manage appropriately. But as your hometown pride, this shows no hometown values.' There are a handful of ways in which you can support this year's pride fest—the organization is celebrating its 45th year in the city. If you donate $45, you will receive a special pin. For more information, visit here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
