LGBTQ Pride festivals see corporate funding dry up after conservative boycotts: 'Will we be able to keep the doors open?'



LGBTQ Pride festivals across the United States are facing major shortfalls in corporate funding this year following several successful conservative boycotts in recent years.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, LGBTQ leaders noted that the withdrawal of several corporate sponsors from this year's Pride Month festivities is "unprecedented."

'Conservative scrutiny is really the top driver of change.'

LGBTQ leaders have warned that Pride parades and festivals face severe funding gaps because corporate sponsorships are drying up.

San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford told Bloomberg, "Will we be able to keep the doors open? You know, that's what I'm most concerned about now."

Ford added, "We’ve all seen the culture wars playing out as far as how corporations respond, and I think this is part and parcel of that movement."

The San Francisco Pride celebration, which is scheduled for late June, is facing a $200,000 funding shortfall following the withdrawal of sponsors including Comcast, Anheuser-Busch, Benefit Cosmetics, and liquor giant Diageo.

With about a month before Pride Month, Twin Cities Pride faces an approximate $200,000 shortfall. The LGBTQ organization noted that it would use crowdfunding to try to compensate for Target ceasing its sponsorship of the event.

Pride St. Louis, which lost Anheuser-Busch as a sponsor, is confronted by a $150,000 budget shortfall.

Denver Pride revealed that returning sponsors have cut contributions by an average of 62%, leaving a $230,000 funding deficit.

According to Bloomberg, Dollar General Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. decided not to sponsor the June Pride event in Nashville, Tennessee.

“We are currently reviewing allmarketing and sales spending,” a Nissan spokesperson told Bloomberg.

CNBC reported that Seattle Pride and New York City Pride both face $350,000 deficits.

Ryan Bos, Capital Pride Alliance’s executive director, told CNBC, "The sad thing is corporations have long been the first to step into our corner. The fact that some are questioning their commitment now during this uncertain time is very disheartening, hurtful, and frustrating for many.”

Home improvement retailer Lowe's reportedly stopped sponsoring the Charlotte Pride festival after providing funding the previous nine years.

St. Pete Pride in Florida noted that it would focus more on community donations instead of corporate sponsors after only hitting 55% of its fundraising goal as of late March, compared with the typical 80% to 90% at this time of year.

“We are the people. This is about people power and being able to use your dollar to advocate,” said Byron Green-Calisch, president of St. Pete Pride.

Nearly two-fifths of corporations plan on rolling back engagement for LGBTQ Pride Month this June.

Some LGBTQ activists are insisting that corporations continue to funnel money to Pride festivities.

“We spend our money as a community in these corporations, and I want them to give back,” demanded Andi Otto, executive director of Twin Cities Pride. “They should give back.”

According to a recent survey of 49 executives from Fortune 1000 companies by Gravity Research, nearly two-fifths of corporations plan on rolling back engagement for LGBTQ Pride Month this June. In last year's survey, only 9% of companies told Gravity Research they would alter their Pride Month engagement plans.

Forbes reported, "Of the 39% of companies who said they would reduce Pride Month engagement this year, 43% said they would reduce external shows of support, which includes having a visual presence at or financially sponsoring Pride marches, offering a Pride merchandise line, updating social media branding, and partnering with influencers for Pride-themed sponsorships."

Many of the executives who said they were scaling back Pride sponsorships noted they were retreating because of possible conservative boycotts, pressure from President Donald Trump's administration, and the backlash against DEI initiatives.

“Conservative scrutiny is really the top driver of change,” said Luke Hartig, president of Gravity Research.

Hartig noted that some of the companies had already begun pulling back in LGBTQ support as early as 2023.

In April 2023, conservatives started to wage a successful brand boycott after Bud Light partnered with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney. Bud Light's parent company, Anheuser-Busch, lost millions in market share due to the conservative boycott.

In May 2023, Target lost billions in market value after conservatives boycotted the retail behemoth for rolling out eyebrow-raising LGBTQ Pride products.

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Donor backlash devastates Ivy League as Harvard, Columbia seek bailouts



Ivy League universities, particularly Harvard and Columbia, have faced a crisis since October 2023, when both institutions revealed themselves as places where blatant anti-Semitism openly flourishes. Amid the anti-Semitic uprisings on campus, the presidents of both schools also faced academic plagiarism charges. Alumni and donors, who expected more from the schools’ leaders and did not share the apparent tolerance for Jew-hatred, have stopped contributing financially.

As reputational and financial damage mounted, Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned in disgrace last January, and Columbia President Minouche Shafik followed in August.

Despite an endowment exceeding $50 billion, Harvard had to expedite bond offerings earlier this year to quickly raise $1.6 billion in cash.

But with those poison Ivies still trying to find a way to balance a hollow commitment to “tolerance” with appeasement of the widespread anti-Semitism demanded by much of their faculty and student body, donors remain repelled, and fundraising continues to struggle.

In early October, Harvard’s new president, Alan Garber, teased that some very bad financial news was about to be revealed for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2024. The Harvard Crimson reported Garber as stating, "Some of the new commitments have been disappointing compared to past years.” In discussing the passion of alumni who are concerned about the current culture and events at Harvard, Garber added, “They’ve been quite vocal.”

The bad news came out a week later. The Harvard Crimson reported:

Harvard’s fundraising crisis now has a price tag: $151 million. Total philanthropic contributions fell by 14 percent in fiscal year 2024 as several billionaire donors publicly severed ties with Harvard over its response to campus antisemitism. The $151 million decline marks one of the most significant year-over-year drops in donations in the past decade.

The donor crisis at Columbia has worsened. The university held its annual Giving Day event this fall, but donations dropped 29% from the previous Giving Day in 2022. (Due to campus turmoil over the university community’s support of Hamas' October 2023 terror attack, there was no Giving Day in 2023.)

The Columbia Spectator laid out the bad news:

Columbia held its 12th annual Giving Day on Tuesday, raising a total of $21,362,592 after a one-year hiatus, a 28.8 percent decline in funds compared to 2022’s record-breaking year.

As the University grapples with a donor crisis—born out of concerns regarding campus protests—this year saw a 27.9 percent drop in the number of gifts, falling from 19,229 in 2022 to 13,870, the lowest since 2015. This year is the first that the total monetary amount of donations has declined from the previous Giving Day since the event’s inception in 2012.

Viewed over a two-year span, the situation at Columbia is simply catastrophic. The university raised $58 million combined in 2021 and 2022. But over 2023 and 2024, the combined total plummeted to just $21 million. The $38 million decrease in biennial giving represents a 64% decline.

Amid declining contributions, it seems both schools are facing a liquidity squeeze.

Despite an endowment exceeding $50 billion, Harvard had to expedite bond offerings earlier this year to quickly raise $1.6 billion in cash. The university raised $750 million in taxable bonds through Goldman Sachs and received approval from Massachusetts to issue up to $2 billion in state tax-exempt bonds. However, investor demand only supported $735 million of those state bonds, leaving Harvard more than $100 million short of its $1.6 billion goal.

Having contributions fall off further in the meantime can’t be helping Harvard’s cash crunch.

Published reports indicate that Harvard’s endowment is only about 20% in liquid assets (cash, stocks, bonds) with about 40% invested in private equity, about 30% in hedge funds, and 10% in real estate and other illiquid assets.

Several months ago, billionaire Bill Ackman noted that Harvard’s budgeting and endowment management rely on certain assumptions about alumni donations. These assumptions didn’t account for the possibility of a donor revolt and the steep decline in current-year cash gifts. Ackman speculated that Harvard’s need for quick cash to make up for lost donations led to the recent bond offerings, especially given the current high-interest rate environment.

Journalist Ira Stoll revealed that much of the cash Harvard raised was used to pay off maturing debt issued at lower interest rates and to roll over some short-term debt.

I don’t know enough to question the legitimacy of Harvard’s illiquid investments, but it is reasonable to question the “investment strategy” of Harvard’s famous endowment if it is so illiquid that even with several years lead time to prepare for bond maturity, its other investment assets cannot get converted into cash to pay off maturing bonds, thus requiring new, higher-interest debt. If an investment cannot ultimately be converted to cash, how does it have a value?

Columbia University also announced a few weeks ago that it too was hitting the bond market for a cash infusion. Columbia is seeking to raise about $500 million with this new debt, despite having an endowment valued at around $15 billion.

The Ivy League schools, especially Harvard and Columbia, have exhausted their reputational capital, and now they are exhausting their working capital. They have shown themselves to be morally and ethically bankrupt. If their liquidity problems can’t be rectified, and if donors have permanently slashed their recurring cash lifelines, perhaps financial bankruptcy is also in the offing for Harvard and Columbia. It would be a long time coming.

Glenn Beck: Here's why Tractor Supply said goodbye to woke DEI



Tractor Supply Co. is a farming supplies retailer headquartered in Tennessee, and it's just gone where no large modern company has gone before.

The company is dropping the diversity, equity, and inclusion goals that it had previously set for itself. In addition, DEI roles will be eliminated, carbon emissions goals will be withdrawn, and the company will stop sending data to the Human Rights Campaign.

Tractor Supply made the move after information began circulating that the company was deeply involved in DEI and ESG initiatives, and its stock price took a nosedive.

“We work hard living up to our mission and our values every day, and represent the values of the communities and customers we serve,” the company wrote in a statement. “We’ve heard from our customers that we have disappointed them. We have taken this feedback to heart.”

The backlash began when conservative Robby Starbuck highlighted the company's actions on X, which included DEI hiring practices, in-office Pride Month decorations, climate change activism, and “funding sex changes.”

“He decimated them,” Glenn Beck says. “Just took them apart with everything that they have.”

Stu Burguiere is impressed by the company's response.

“It’s very rare,” Burguiere tells Glenn. “Even Bud Light, who seemingly overtly changed directions, right? Like you could tell by their actions. They never came out and said, ‘And just so you know, we’re totally off the bandwagon.’ They just kind of did it and hoped you noticed.”

Glenn, however, remains skeptical.

“I’d like to see if this is just, you know, another customer service kind of thing and a campaign ad,” he says.


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Tractor Supply Co. DUMPS its Woke DEI Policies | What You Should Know
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Tractor Supply Co. DUMPS its Woke DEI Policies | What You Should Know

Dave & Buster's blasted for reportedly sponsoring 'youth entertainers drag show'



Dave & Buster's – the entertainment bar restaurant chain – is reportedly sponsoring an LGBTQ pride event that includes a "youth entertainers drag show." The controversial event has been criticized by many.

Dave & Buster's is known for entertainment, arcade games, and alcohol, but it is under fire for allegedly sponsoring a drag show event for children in Wisconsin.

The Libs of TikTok account noted: "Dave & Busters is sponsoring a pride event in Wisconsin where children will dress up in drag and perform a sexual-themed show as adults clap along and encourage them."

— (@)

Social media posts from the N.E.W. Pride organization appear to confirm the LGBT event featuring "youth entertainers drag show."

Friday's schedule for the N.E.W. Pride events is expected to be restricted to ages "21+," but there does not appear to be any age restriction for Saturday's LGBTQ events.

The website for N.E.W. Pride – previously known as "Rainbow Over Wisconsin" – states: "Rainbow Over Wisconsin was founded in 1996 with the goal to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites. Rainbow Over Wisconsin (ROW) produced many community events including Pride Alive, the ROW Gala, Pride Prom, and many others. Now, with a refreshed strategic direction that better serves Northeastern Wisconsin, ROW is becoming N.E.W. Pride."

According to social media posts from last year's N.E.W. Pride Alive event, small children engaged with drag queen performers.

The Dave & Buster's Twitter account had been blasted by commentators questioning the alleged sponsorship of the "youth entertainers drag show," but the arcade bar company had yet to respond to overwhelming criticism. A few have suggested a boycott of Dave & Buster's.

TheBlaze reached out for comment from Dave & Buster's regarding the "youth entertainers drag show," but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

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Bud Light could be permanently losing shelf space to rivals, Anheuser-Busch sees revenue plummet by a whopping $395 million



The Bud Light boycott is still causing economic harm to the beer brand's parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Since the boycott of Bud Light after the brand partnered with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney in April, sales of the beer brand plummeted.

Anheuser-Busch's revenue declined 10.5% year-over-year in North America, according to the second-quarter corporate earnings data. Compared to the same time a year ago, AB InBev revealed revenue plummeted a whopping $395 million.

Anheuser-Busch InBev admitted the significant decline was "primarily due to the volume decline of Bud Light."

While revenue dropped in North America, AB InBev's global revenue increased by 7.2%

"EBITDA declined by 28.2%, with approximately two-thirds of this decrease attributable to market share performance and the remainder from productivity loss, increased sales and marketing investments and support measures for our wholesaler partners," Anheuser-Busch InBev said in the second-quarter earnings report.

The Belgium-based owner of Bud Light noted that its global beer brands of Modelo in Mexico and Spaten in Brazil saw revenue grow by more than 10% in the second quarter of 2023.

"Our global brands grew revenue by 18.4% outside of their home markets, led by Corona, which was recently recognized by Kantar BrandZ as the #1 fastest growing global beer brand by value, which grew by 23.7%," Anheuser-Busch InBev stated.

Anheuser-Busch InBev CEO Michel Doukeris said on an earnings call, "Regardless of favorability, our consumers across all sentiment groups have three points of feedback in common. One, they want to enjoy their beer without a debate. Two, they want Bud Light to focus on beer. Three, they want Bud Light to concentrate on the platforms that all consumers love, such as NFL, (veteran charity) Folds of Honor and music."

Bud Light could be permanently losing shelf space to competitors, according to a main Anheuser-Busch InBev rival.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week, "There are reasons to believe that Bud Light sales might be permanently impaired. Molson Coors Chief Executive Gavin Hattersley said on a conference call with analysts that retailers are already reallocating space to other brands during shelf resets that take place in the spring, with more resets to come in the fall. In bars and other on-premise channels, the company gained more than 12,000 tap handles in the quarter, he added."

Hattersley declared that Molson Coors is planning on spending an additional $100 million on marketing to keep the sales momentum going.

"Our job is to maintain those gains that we’ve got," Hattersley said.

An anonymous beer distributor told the New York Post, "Consumers have made a choice. They have left [Bud Light] and that’s how it’s going to be. I don’t envision a big percentage of them coming back."

Last week, Anheuser-Busch InBev announced it was laying off about 350 employees.

Last month, a survey found that Bud Light is no longer one of the top 10 beers in the United States.

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(Ready)Woke culture unmasked: Dylan Mulvaney's role in corporate wokeness



No matter how woke a company goes, it will never be woke enough.

And in light of recent events, this includes Bud Light.

“You never arrive,” Stu Burguiere comments. “All of these threats that stay out there against you remain there and, in fact, even get worse after you engage.”

“This is a lesson that all companies should be learning, and Dylan Mulvaney spelled it out perfectly,” he adds.

Mulvaney recently posted a video to social media in which the transgender activist claimed that he has been targeted after the Bud Light campaign — and said Bud Light has not reached out to him at all after the controversy.

“I was scared of more backlash and I felt personally guilty for what transpired, so I patiently waited for things to get better, but surprise, they haven’t really,” Mulvaney said, continuing, “and I was waiting for the brand to reach out to me, but they never did.”

Mulvaney claims that he’s been afraid to leave his house for months, as he’s been ridiculed in public and followed.

“I have felt a loneliness that I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” he added.

Stu notes that while he feels sorry for Mulvaney, and while Bud Light tried to appease LGBTQ+ activists by being “woke,” the backlash has the company backing away from Mulvaney. This now gives the activist the perfect opportunity to play victim — because Bud Light didn’t do enough.

“The desired position in our society now is to be the victim. It’s always been the opposite,” Stu says.

“Bud Light, a brand targeting frat boys, has a giant business. They step out of this for a second to honor the LGBTQIA2+ community,” Stu says, continuing, “they go out there and they destroy their business over this effort.”

“And what do they get from Dylan Mulvaney?” Stu asks.

They get burned.

“For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse, in my opinion, than not hiring a trans person at all,” Mulvaney said.


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Data Shows Americans Want Businesses To Shelve The Virtue Signaling And Remain Politically Neutral

Data indicates that Americans generally want cultural neutrality from businesses and think LGBT themes harm children.

Big Businesses Are Still Woke, They’ve Just Learned To Be Quieter About It

While it seems that conservatives are pushing businesses and nonprofit organizations to return to more neutral positions, it’s all a facade.

Bud Light is no longer America's best-selling beer after boycott, Wall Street analysts warn Anheuser-Busch faces 'permanent' damage



Bud Light has been dethroned as the king of beers in the United States following a widespread boycott.

CBS News reported that Anheuser-Busch InBev sold $297 million of Bud Light for the four-week period ending on May 28 — tumbling 23% from the same duration from the previous year, according to consumer-behavior analytics firm Circana.

Meanwhile in the same time period, Modelo Especial beer raked in $333 million in sales, jumping 15% over the past year.

Bill Newlands, the chief executive officer of Constellation, told Newsweek of becoming the best-selling beer in the country, "We thought that would take a little longer. We've been very fortunate that, that's gone a little quicker than we had anticipated. But what a great position to be in on the beer side."

Modelo Especial was the second-fastest-growing beer brand in 2022, according to data from Circana/IRI.

Modelo Especial was first brewed in 1925 and is part of Grupo Modelo. In 2013, Anheuser-Busch InBev sold Grupo Modelo brands Modelo and Corona to Constellation Brands as part of a $2.9 billion deal.

Sales of Bud Light have declined for seven consecutive weeks after transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney promoted the beer brand on Instagram — which ignited a consumer boycott.

Without a course correction, experts warn that slumping sales could be "permanent," thus hurting the entire Anheuser-Busch InBev corporation.

Analysts at global asset management firm Bernstein warned that Anheuser-Busch InBev should expect a "permanent 15% haircut" to Bud Light sales. The Wall Street research firm also lowered AB InBev's overall 2023 profit forecast by 6.7% after the Bud Light boycott.

The Drinks Business reported, "Going forward, analysts from financial services company Jeffries have said that the 'Bud Light saga may endure.' It said that within their survey of beer distributors some 65% believed that 'protracted Bud Light demand weakness' is 'expected to linger' with an expectation the controversy could last more than six months. A third of respondents believed there could be a 'permanent lapse in Bud Light consumers' as well."

Dave Williams, vice president of analytics and insights at Bump Williams Consulting, told CBS MoneyWatch, "Unless Bud Light starts to experience a serious course correction in terms of performance, which can only come from consumers finding their way back into the brand family, then that firm grip on the No. 1 rank by year-end loosens a bit more every week."

Sales supervisors revealed that Bud Light sales for the week ending on Memorial Day plummeted by as much as 60%.

A sales supervisor told ABC News, "This has really, really killed a lot of the guys who are commission-based. That's who it's really hurting. There's nothing they could've done – this was thrown in their faces."

Williams told Fox Business, "I think a lot of Anheuser-Busch distributors have been working exceptionally hard to communicate to their local communities that it wasn’t their fault. And once they clearly stated that this was not on them, I think their strong relationships in retail and with the local communities began to resonate."

Anheuser-Busch InBev hsa lost as much as $27 billion in market value since Mulvaney promoted the brand on social media.

Bud Light has also faced boycotts from the LGBTQ community for not fighting against the conservative backlash.

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