Latest news with #SanFranciscoPride
USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
Corporations won't save LGBTQ+ people. Take their money for Pride anyway.
Corporations won't save LGBTQ+ people. Take their money for Pride anyway. | Opinion Every large company, regardless of its position on DEI, operates within systems that perpetuate harm in one way or another. This is not a time to stand on principle. Take the money. Show Caption Hide Caption San Francisco Pride faces shortfall as corporate sponsors pull out Several major companies have opted out of donating to San Francisco Pride this year, such as Anheuser-Busch, Diageo, Nissan, and Comcast. Corporations are not our friends. Despite their diverse casting in advertisements, the rainbow trinkets they proudly sell for $2, press releases on innovative DEI initiatives or how "brave" their hot takes on social issues are – corporations will not save us. They exist to sell us things. They exist to advertise their brand. They exist to maximize their profits. And our job as queer leaders is not to be the morality police of who can or cannot sponsor pride or donate toward LGBTQ+ events and causes; our job is to grab that money and use it to support a community on the brink of being pummeled. This is not a normal year. Federal funding for nonprofits supporting LGBTQ+, immigrant, people of color and other intersecting communities are under attack, as are our tax-exempt statuses. Economists are predicting massive layoffs. Libraries, museums, cultural spaces and health programs (which employ and serve countless LGBTQ+ individuals) are being defunded. Trump administration has waged war on trans people Our federal government has waged an egregious war on our trans family, and the Supreme Court recently heard a case that could dismantle all preventative care coverage, including access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis medicine that can help prevent the spread of HIV). Here is the hard truth we have to reckon with in 2025: Every dollar counts more than ever if we want to keep LGBTQ+ people informed, healthy and alive. There's a commendable vision within the LGBTQ+ community to return to a time when we relied on mutual aid instead of corporate dollars. But like everything, it has a cost. In 2025, that cost is asking a community of people who are losing access to meds, about to lose their jobs and constantly under political attack to give even more. Your Turn: Do you celebrate pride? Are you worried about Trump's impacts on it? Tell us. The quiet truth is it would financially decimate our community if we were expected to take the already small amount of resources that we have and use them to replace hundreds of millions dollars in lost sponsorships, research and health care. Most people can't afford to donate to every fundraiser providing continuous access to gender-affirming care, send money to replace funding for the local trans services that lost their federal grant, give to all the GoFundMe's for everyone getting laid off this year, donate to support some research project still happening and still manage to support the normal fundraising needs our community has on whatever is left in their pockets between paydays. We become stronger by bringing more resources into the fold, not recycling what we have over and over. Pride events must take every dollar from any corporation The truth is, no corporation is ever clean. There is no ethical consumption under capitalism. Every large company ‒ regardless of its position on diversity, equity and inclusion ‒ operates within systems that perpetuate harm in one way or another. How is DEI the deal breaker for who can sponsor pride, but we'll turn a blind eye to a health insurance conglomerate with questionable tactics, companies that destroy the environment or banks supporting genocide? In any other year, I would be asking you to throw them all out. Today I'm asking you to take all of their money. Opinion: With Trump's ban on trans troops in effect, US tests lawful discrimination This is my ask, if you're running a pride festival or charity event, determine the minimum amount you need to make your event a reality, and build a regranting program to get excess funds to community resources under attack this year. This includes your local HIV clinic or programs providing gender-affirming care. If your nonprofit receives corporate gifts or grants, continue to accept the gifts that keep your doors open. But here's the key: Promise corporations the bare minimum in return for their sponsorships. Brainstorm with your team to reexamine what you offer your partners. Are there promotional aspects that could be tweaked, or partnerships toned down, so you are still offering something of value to the partner but it's more authentic to the organization? A little wiggle room leads to big gains. It's time to fight for our survival, not stand on principle If these companies are willing to give us the bare minimum, in the form of a tax-deductible donation, we can afford to give them the bare minimum in return to keep our community stable. Use them to build our own mutual aid bank. Take that dollar. Because in six months or a year, we probably won't have it. Our nonprofits might be starting to shut down. Services will likely be more strained or cut off completely. This is not a time to stand on principle about which funding sources are 'pure.' It's a time to rally, strategize and fight for survival. Every dollar we take and redirect to our community is a necessary, and perhaps fleeting, lifeline – using the advertising capital of a festival or a one-time event, to protect the health, safety and knowledge of our community. To nonprofit leaders and community organizers reading this: Take the money. All of it. Use it to get more medicine, more stability and more resources into your communities. Raise it now so we have it tomorrow. Ask for more, too. We're not just fighting for the present; we're fighting to preserve a future for LGBTQ+ communities everywhere. And that fight requires every dollar we can muster. Missy Spears is the executive director of Queer Kentucky, the GLAAD-nominated media nonprofit that uses the power of storytelling to impact LGBTQ+ culture and health. In addition to her work with Queer Kentucky, Spears serves as the Board of Directors co-president for the Kentucky Civic Engagement Table, the cofounder of the COVunity Free Fridge Program, and sits on Community Advisory Boards for the Cincinnati Art Museum, media outlet WCPO, and University of Kentucky's Center for Clinical and Translational Science. This column originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Manager fired after wearing religious T-shirts to oppose Pride Month gets settlement
Manager fired after wearing religious T-shirts to oppose Pride Month gets settlement Show Caption Hide Caption San Francisco Pride faces shortfall as corporate sponsors pull out Several major companies have opted out of donating to San Francisco Pride this year, such as Anheuser-Busch, Diageo, Nissan, and Comcast. An Iowa man reached a settlement with Eaton Corp., the company that fired him after he wore Christian-themed T-shirts during Pride Month. The lawsuit claimed the shirts were in response to the company's promotion of Pride Month and expressed the employee's religious beliefs. The company argued the firing was based on legitimate business reasons and not discriminatory. An Iowa man has reached an out-of-court settlement with the former employer he accused of firing him for wearing Christian-themed T-shirts to work in response to the company's endorsement of Pride Month. In June 2024, Cosby 'Corey' Cunningham sued Eaton Corp., a global power management company with an office in Davenport, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, alleging violations of his civil rights. Cunningham, a self-described born-again, churchgoing Christian, was hired by Eaton in 2019 as a quality manager with responsibilities for product development related to military and aerospace activity. According to his lawsuit, Eaton initiated a Pride Month ceremony on June 2, 2023, by raising a pride flag in front of its main building and encouraging employees to wear specific colors in support of the effort. Management also sent emails to the staff offering pride-themed T-shirts for workers to purchase, the lawsuit claims. That day, Cunningham alleges, he began wearing T-shirts at work that displayed or referred to Bible verses. According to the lawsuit, he wanted to 'express his sincerely held religious belief in Jesus Christ and the Bible.' Over the next eight weeks, Eaton managers allegedly held a series of meetings with Cunningham to express their concern that his actions were perceived by others as inflammatory and that they might violate company policy. According to the lawsuit, management refused Cunningham's requests for a religious accommodation to wear the T-shirts, threatened him with dismissal, and sent him home on at least two occasions for refusing to stop wearing the shirts. On Aug. 23, 2023, the company fired Cunningham, the lawsuit alleges. Conservative institute provides legal representation In his lawsuit, Cunningham stated that he believes 'homosexual conduct is sinful' and that he had been called upon to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Doing so, he claimed, required him to share with others even those biblical teachings that are offensive to those who don't share such beliefs. In its response to those claims, lawyers for the Eaton Corp. argued Cunningham was not entitled to any damages because any actions taken by the company against him 'were legitimate and non-discriminatory and non-retaliatory,' and were based on legitimate business reasons. Representing Cunningham in his lawsuit was Robert Anderson of Atlantic, Iowa, an attorney for the Pacific Justice Institute, a conservative organization that said it works to promote religious freedom and parental rights. The Southern Poverty Law Center has characterized the Pacific Justice Institute as 'an anti-LGBT hate group' whose founder has 'compared legalized gay marriage to Hitler and the Nazis' ascent in Germany.' Anderson said on May 22 that he's not at liberty to comment on the specifics of the settlement that was reached in April. Attorneys for Eaton Corp. did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Find this story at The Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network and at Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Pride events face budget shortfalls as US corporations pull support ahead of summer festivities
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Many U.S. corporations this year stopped supporting Pride events that celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and rights, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in budget shortfalls ahead of the summer festivities and raising questions about corporate America's commitment to the cause. The moves come as President Donald Trump has shown antipathy for trans protections and has attempted to roll back some LGBTQ+ friendly federal policies. Experts also note that a growing slice of the public has grown tired of companies taking a stance on social and political issues. San Francisco Pride, the nonprofit that produces one of the country's largest and best-known LGBTQ+ celebrations, is facing a $200,000 budget gap after corporate donors dropped out. In Kansas City, Missouri, KC Pride lost about $200,000 -- roughly half its annual budget. Heritage of Pride, the umbrella organization behind NYC Pride and other LGBTQ+ events in New York City, is fundraising to narrow a $750,000 budget gap after companies withdrew. Meanwhile, Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch ended its sponsorship of PrideFest in St. Louis, Missouri, its home base, after 30 years, leaving organizers with a $150,000 budget shortfall. In response, many Pride organizations have canceled some dance parties, reduced the number of stages, hired less pricey headliners and no longer give volunteers free food or T-shirts. But the core celebrations will go on. In San Francisco, this year's Pride theme is "Queer Joy is Resistance." In New York, it's "Rise Up: Pride in Protest," and, in Boston, it's "Here to Stay!" "If you come to Pride this year, that's a revolutionary act," said Suzanne Ford, executive director of San Francisco Pride. "You are sending a message to those in Washington that, here in San Francisco, we still have the same values that we've always had -- you can love who you love here. We're not going to retreat from that." Following media coverage of their retreat, some companies changed course but asked that their names not be affiliated with the events, the event organizers said. Corporations rethink Pride sponsorships San Francisco Pride earlier this year lost the support of five major corporate donors, including Comcast, Anheuser-Busch and Diageo, the beverage giant that makes Guinness beer and Smirnoff vodka. "With everything we're facing from the Trump administration, to lose five of your partners within a couple of weeks, it felt like we were being abandoned," Ford said. After the withdrawals drew attention, some corporations said they would donate but only anonymously, Ford said, declining to identify those companies. As of this week, neither Comcast, Anheuser-Busch nor Diageo appeared on the organization's website as sponsors of the June 29 festivities. It was unclear if they donated. Anheuser-Busch and Diageo didn't reply to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment. A spokesperson for Comcast also declined to comment but said some of its companies are sponsoring Silicon Valley Pride and Oakland Pride. NYC Pride spokesperson Chris Piedmont said about 20% of its corporate sponsors either dropped their support or scaled back, including New York-based PepsiCo and Nissan. Kyle Bazemore, Nissan North America's director of corporate communications, said the decision comes as the automaker reviews all of its marketing expenses to lower costs. PepsiCo did not return an email seeking comment. Piedmont said NYC Pride has also received anonymous corporate funding and that he appreciates the unpublicized support. "Writing a check to a nonprofit and supporting a nonprofit with no strings attached is stepping up to the plate," Piedmont said. Companies retreat from 'brand activism' The shift reflects how corporations are adjusting to a changing cultural landscape that began during the pandemic and accelerated with Trump's second term, experts said. "Companies are resourceful, they are clever at identifying trends and studying their environment and their customers' needs, but those needs change and corporations adjust," said Amir Grinstein, a marketing professor at Northeastern University. Corporations' presence in rainbow-filled Pride parades, concerts and dance parties became more ubiquitous after the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, as companies splashed their names on parade floats, rainbow flags and bright plastic bracelets. So-called brand activism reached its peak between 2016 to 2022, a period of social upheaval around the pandemic, police brutality and transgender rights, Grinstein said. But research has since found a growing number of American consumers don't want companies taking positions on such topics, said Barbara Kahn, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. "There have always been people who said, 'I don't want my toothpaste to have an opinion, I just want to use my toothpaste,' but the tide has shifted, and research shows there are more people that feel that way now," Kahn said. Pride organizers keep their distance from some corporations Meanwhile, Republican-led states have been passing legislation to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and LGBTQ+ rights, especially the ability of transgender young people to participate in sports or receive gender-affirming care. Trump signed executive orders on his first day in office that rolled back protections for transgender people and terminated federal DEI programs. Some companies followed suit by eliminating their DEI goals, prompting Pride organizations to sever ties. San Francisco's organizers cut ties with Meta after the parent company of Facebook and Instagram terminated its DEI goals and content moderation policies. Twin Cities Pride ended its relationship with Target over the Minneapolis-based retailer's curtailing of its DEI initiatives following a backlash from conservatives and the White House. The company's retreat from DEI policies led to a counter-boycott by civil rights advocates. Target announced in May that sales fell more than expected in the first quarter due to customer boycotts, tariffs and other economic factors. The company now offers only some Pride products at a few stores and online. Still, Rick Gomez, Target's chief commercial officer, told reporters in May that it's important to celebrate Heritage Months, which highlight different groups from Latinos to Asian Americans to the LGBTQ+ community. "They drive sales growth for us," he said. Asking the community for financial support First-time donations from individuals, foundations and local businesses have increased following corporate America's retreat. In Minneapolis, a crowdfunding campaign by Twin Cities Pride to fill a $50,000 funding gap raised more than $89,000. In San Francisco, two local foundations donated $55,000 combined. "This isn't the first year that there's been an inflammatory climate around Pride," said James Moran, a spokesperson for KC Pride, in Kansas City, Missouri. "We know that our community is looking for spaces that are meant for us, where we can celebrate but also process what's going on and build our own support networks."
The Hill
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Pride events face budget shortfalls as US corporations pull support ahead of summer festivities
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Many U.S. corporations this year stopped supporting Pride events that celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and rights, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in budget shortfalls ahead of the summer festivities and raising questions about corporate America's commitment to the cause. The moves come as President Donald Trump has shown antipathy for trans protections and has attempted to roll back some LGBTQ+ friendly federal policies. Experts also note that a growing slice of the public has grown tired of companies taking a stance on social and political issues. San Francisco Pride, the nonprofit that produces one of the country's largest and best-known LGBTQ+ celebrations, is facing a $200,000 budget gap after corporate donors dropped out. In Kansas City, Missouri, KC Pride lost about $200,000 — roughly half its annual budget. Heritage of Pride, the umbrella organization behind NYC Pride and other LGBTQ+ events in New York City, is fundraising to narrow a $750,000 budget gap after companies withdrew. Meanwhile, Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch ended its sponsorship of PrideFest in St. Louis, Missouri, its home base, after 30 years, leaving organizers with a $150,000 budget shortfall. In response, many Pride organizations have canceled some dance parties, reduced the number of stages, hired less pricey headliners and no longer give volunteers free food or T-shirts. But the core celebrations will go on. In San Francisco, this year's Pride theme is 'Queer Joy is Resistance.' In New York, it's 'Rise Up: Pride in Protest,' and, in Boston, it's 'Here to Stay!' 'If you come to Pride this year, that's a revolutionary act,' said Suzanne Ford, executive director of San Francisco Pride. 'You are sending a message to those in Washington that, here in San Francisco, we still have the same values that we've always had — you can love who you love here. We're not going to retreat from that.' Following media coverage of their retreat, some companies changed course but asked that their names not be affiliated with the events, the event organizers said. San Francisco Pride earlier this year lost the support of five major corporate donors, including Comcast, Anheuser-Busch and Diageo, the beverage giant that makes Guinness beer and Smirnoff vodka. 'With everything we're facing from the Trump administration, to lose five of your partners within a couple of weeks, it felt like we were being abandoned,' Ford said. After the withdrawals drew attention, some corporations said they would donate but only anonymously, Ford said, declining to identify those companies. As of this week, neither Comcast, Anheuser-Busch nor Diageo appeared on the organization's website as sponsors of the June 29 festivities. It was unclear if they donated. Anheuser-Busch and Diageo didn't reply to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment. A spokesperson for Comcast also declined to comment but said some of its companies are sponsoring Silicon Valley Pride and Oakland Pride. NYC Pride spokesperson Chris Piedmont said about 20% of its corporate sponsors either dropped their support or scaled back, including New York-based PepsiCo and Nissan. Kyle Bazemore, Nissan North America's director of corporate communications, said the decision comes as the automaker reviews all of its marketing expenses to lower costs. PepsiCo did not return an email seeking comment. Piedmont said NYC Pride has also received anonymous corporate funding and that he appreciates the unpublicized support. 'Writing a check to a nonprofit and supporting a nonprofit with no strings attached is stepping up to the plate,' Piedmont said. The shift reflects how corporations are adjusting to a changing cultural landscape that began during the pandemic and accelerated with Trump's second term, experts said. 'Companies are resourceful, they are clever at identifying trends and studying their environment and their customers' needs, but those needs change and corporations adjust,' said Amir Grinstein, a marketing professor at Northeastern University. Corporations' presence in rainbow-filled Pride parades, concerts and dance parties became more ubiquitous after the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, as companies splashed their names on parade floats, rainbow flags and bright plastic bracelets. So-called brand activism reached its peak between 2016 to 2022, a period of social upheaval around the pandemic, police brutality and transgender rights, Grinstein said. But research has since found a growing number of American consumers don't want companies taking positions on such topics, said Barbara Kahn, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. 'There have always been people who said, 'I don't want my toothpaste to have an opinion, I just want to use my toothpaste,' but the tide has shifted, and research shows there are more people that feel that way now,' Kahn said. Meanwhile, Republican-led states have been passing legislation to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and LGBTQ+ rights, especially the ability of transgender young people to participate in sports or receive gender-affirming care. Trump signed executive orders on his first day in office that rolled back protections for transgender people and terminated federal DEI programs. Some companies followed suit by eliminating their DEI goals, prompting Pride organizations to sever ties. San Francisco's organizers cut ties with Meta after the parent company of Facebook and Instagram terminated its DEI goals and content moderation policies. Twin Cities Pride ended its relationship with Target over the Minneapolis-based retailer's curtailing of its DEI initiatives following a backlash from conservatives and the White House. The company's retreat from DEI policies led to a counter-boycott by civil rights advocates. Target announced in May that sales fell more than expected in the first quarter due to customer boycotts, tariffs and other economic factors. The company now offers only some Pride products at a few stores and online. Still, Rick Gomez, Target's chief commercial officer, told reporters in May that it's important to celebrate Heritage Months, which highlight different groups from Latinos to Asian Americans to the LGBTQ+ community. 'They drive sales growth for us,' he said. First-time donations from individuals, foundations and local businesses have increased following corporate America's retreat. In Minneapolis, a crowdfunding campaign by Twin Cities Pride to fill a $50,000 funding gap raised more than $89,000. In San Francisco, two local foundations donated $55,000 combined. 'This isn't the first year that there's been an inflammatory climate around Pride,' said James Moran, a spokesperson for KC Pride, in Kansas City, Missouri. 'We know that our community is looking for spaces that are meant for us, where we can celebrate but also process what's going on and build our own support networks.' ___ Associated Press retail reporter Anne D'Innocenzio in New York City contributed.
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Pride events face budget shortfalls as US corporations pull support ahead of summer festivities
SAN FRANCISCO — Many U.S. corporations this year stopped supporting Pride events that celebrate LGBTQ culture and rights, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in budget shortfalls ahead of the summer festivities and raising questions about corporate America's commitment to the cause. The moves come as President Donald Trump has shown antipathy for trans protections and has attempted to roll back some LGBTQ friendly federal policies. Experts also note that a growing slice of the public has grown tired of companies taking a stance on social and political issues. San Francisco Pride, the nonprofit that produces one of the country's largest and best-known LGBTQ celebrations, is facing a $200,000 budget gap after corporate donors dropped out. In Kansas City, Missouri, KC Pride lost about $200,000 — roughly half its annual budget. Heritage of Pride, the umbrella organization behind NYC Pride and other LGBTQ events in New York City, is fundraising to narrow a $750,000 budget gap after companies withdrew. Meanwhile, Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch ended its sponsorship of PrideFest in St. Louis, Missouri, its home base, after 30 years, leaving organizers with a $150,000 budget shortfall. In response, many Pride organizations have canceled some dance parties, reduced the number of stages, hired less pricey headliners and no longer give volunteers free food or T-shirts. But the core celebrations will go on. In San Francisco, this year's Pride theme is 'Queer Joy is Resistance.' In New York, it's 'Rise Up: Pride in Protest,' and, in Boston, it's 'Here to Stay!' 'If you come to Pride this year, that's a revolutionary act,' said Suzanne Ford, executive director of San Francisco Pride. 'You are sending a message to those in Washington that, here in San Francisco, we still have the same values that we've always had — you can love who you love here. We're not going to retreat from that.' Following media coverage of their retreat, some companies changed course but asked that their names not be affiliated with the events, the event organizers said. San Francisco Pride earlier this year lost the support of five major corporate donors, including Comcast, Anheuser-Busch and Diageo, the beverage giant that makes Guinness beer and Smirnoff vodka. 'With everything we're facing from the Trump administration, to lose five of your partners within a couple of weeks, it felt like we were being abandoned,' Ford said. After the withdrawals drew attention, some corporations said they would donate but only anonymously, Ford said, declining to identify those companies. As of this week, neither Comcast, Anheuser-Busch nor Diageo appeared on the organization's website as sponsors of the June 29 festivities. It was unclear if they donated. Anheuser-Busch and Diageo didn't reply to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment. A spokesperson for Comcast also declined to comment but said some of its companies are sponsoring Silicon Valley Pride and Oakland Pride. NYC Pride spokesperson Chris Piedmont said about 20% of its corporate sponsors either dropped their support or scaled back, including New York-based PepsiCo and Nissan. Kyle Bazemore, Nissan North America's director of corporate communications, said the decision comes as the automaker reviews all of its marketing expenses to lower costs. PepsiCo did not return an email seeking comment. Piedmont said NYC Pride has also received anonymous corporate funding and that he appreciates the unpublicized support. 'Writing a check to a nonprofit and supporting a nonprofit with no strings attached is stepping up to the plate,' Piedmont said. The shift reflects how corporations are adjusting to a changing cultural landscape that began during the pandemic and accelerated with Trump's second term, experts said. 'Companies are resourceful, they are clever at identifying trends and studying their environment and their customers' needs, but those needs change and corporations adjust,' said Amir Grinstein, a marketing professor at Northeastern University. Corporations' presence in rainbow-filled Pride parades, concerts and dance parties became more ubiquitous after the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, as companies splashed their names on parade floats, rainbow flags and bright plastic bracelets. So-called brand activism reached its peak between 2016 to 2022, a period of social upheaval around the pandemic, police brutality and transgender rights, Grinstein said. But research has since found a growing number of American consumers don't want companies taking positions on such topics, said Barbara Kahn, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. 'There have always been people who said, 'I don't want my toothpaste to have an opinion, I just want to use my toothpaste,' but the tide has shifted, and research shows there are more people that feel that way now," Kahn said. Meanwhile, Republican-led states have been passing legislation to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and LGBTQ rights, especially the ability of transgender young people to participate in sports or receive gender-affirming care. Trump signed executive orders on his first day in office that rolled back protections for transgender people and terminated federal DEI programs. Some companies followed suit by eliminating their DEI goals, prompting Pride organizations to sever ties. San Francisco's organizers cut ties with Meta after the parent company of Facebook and Instagram terminated its DEI goals and content moderation policies. Twin Cities Pride ended its relationship with Target over the Minneapolis-based retailer's curtailing of its DEI initiatives following a backlash from conservatives and the White House. The company's retreat from DEI policies led to a counter-boycott by civil rights advocates. Target announced in May that sales fell more than expected in the first quarter due to customer boycotts, tariffs and other economic factors. The company now offers only some Pride products at a few stores and online. Still, Rick Gomez, Target's chief commercial officer, told reporters in May that it's important to celebrate Heritage Months, which highlight different groups from Latinos to Asian Americans to the LGBTQ community. "They drive sales growth for us,' he said. First-time donations from individuals, foundations and local businesses have increased following corporate America's retreat. In Minneapolis, a crowdfunding campaign by Twin Cities Pride to fill a $50,000 funding gap raised more than $89,000. In San Francisco, two local foundations donated $55,000 combined. 'This isn't the first year that there's been an inflammatory climate around Pride,' said James Moran, a spokesperson for KC Pride, in Kansas City, Missouri. 'We know that our community is looking for spaces that are meant for us, where we can celebrate but also process what's going on and build our own support networks.' Associated Press retail reporter Anne D'Innocenzio in New York City contributed. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
