TDS Time Machine | Pride Month
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What changes are corporations making for Pride Month this year?
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June is Pride Month, where we celebrate the LGBTQ community and stores roll out their Pride merch to rake in some of that sweet gay cash. Or as it's known in the gay community, money. But this year, things are different. Pride Month is here, and some big brands have gone conspicuously quiet.
Corporate America is scaling back its marketing. That includes selling Pride-themed merchandise or posting supportive messages on social media.
Walmart, MasterCard, Comcast, Pepsi, and more have either stopped or scaled back Pride events.
Anheuser-Busch not sponsoring Pride St.
Louis after a 30-year partnership.
How has the history of the Pride movement influenced corporate participation?
Targets once bold, Pride displaced, now stripped bare. Absolutely despicable. Target has completely abandoned its role as the number one destination for gay people with horrible fashion sense. But the question is, why are these companies suddenly retreating back into the closet?
More than 60% of more than 200 executives say they fear backlash from the Trump administration and its actions against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts by companies. Our country will be woke no longer. Some also fear falling prey to conservative activists and customers becoming the next Bud Light.
Some companies are writing checks but asking that their names and logos not be included. It's just a strange time for pride this year.
Come on. Secretly paying gays because you're ashamed? You're major corporations, not Lindsey Graham. For more analysis, we turn now to our senior gay business correspondent, Troy Iwata.
Thank you so much, Desi. Yes, I am the senior gay business correspondent. Just to clarify, are you a correspondent on gay business or a business correspondent who is gay? Yes. Cool, cool, cool. So what do you make of corporations pulling back from Pride Month? You know what?
What are the reactions to companies pulling back from Pride events?
I get it. Big corporations, I get it. You were only into jumping all over Pride a few years ago because it was trendy and cool and so Obama, and you wanted all that gay cash. But we have a lot of it. You know, I get it. Most of us don't have kids. Ugh, right. Totally. You don't do that boring breeding thing that we do. Yeah, yeah. Totally. You know, but I get it. The vibes have shifted. You know, MAGA's ascended. Trump is president. Obama is dead. But I, you know, one day the pendulum is going to swing back toward the gays. And when it does, a little rainbow flag isn't going to cut it. If they want our business again, they're going to have to do something that shows their commitment. Sure.
How do LGBTQ individuals feel about corporate sponsorship of Pride?
Like discounts or they could donate to LGBTQ causes. They're going to have to bottom.
Oh.
Bottom?
Yeah, yeah. Hey corporations, you wanna prove that you have commitment? Find your most homophobic executive, change his fiber intake. Day one of the act, make him eat light, mostly greens, okay? He needs to douche because sometimes you can't just trust your body. And then he needs lubricant, okay? You can't just pull a Heath Ledger and spit on it, RIP. Wow. Bottoming does take a lot of commitment. Yeah, it does. I know. Even some gay guys won't do it, Brian. That demand is detailed. Yeah. Sorry, is that too much? Too much detail for you?
What role do historical events like Stonewall play in Pride celebrations?
Does male love make you cringe? Oh, my God. No, no. Oh, God, no. It's so beautiful. Like, so beautiful. I mean, in fact, I wish I could be there with you in the room just, like, celebrating it all, you know?
All right, calm down.
Sorry, I just, I want to be an ally. So do you think bottoming will be enough to satisfy them? Well, you know, it depends on the angle. No, I mean to satisfy the gay community. Oh, oh, right. Okay. No, no, no, no. There's all sorts of ways companies can embrace gay culture. They can show their appreciation of Megan Hilty. They can find out who Megan Hilty is. They can open their marriages, then close their marriages, then open their marriages again. AMC, you can put Nicole Kidman in charge of the company.
How are corporate contributions to Pride viewed in light of recent backlash?
She's basically the only reason gays go to the movies. Yes, yes. Oh, and they can give Goldman Sachs to Katy Perry.
I love that you're trying, but you don't get it.
They can watch Drag Race.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What changes are corporations making for Pride Month this year?
0:00–1:11
2
How has the history of the Pride movement influenced corporate participation?
1:11–2:45
3
What are the reactions to companies pulling back from Pride events?
2:45–3:29
4
How do LGBTQ individuals feel about corporate sponsorship of Pride?
3:29–4:28
5
What role do historical events like Stonewall play in Pride celebrations?
4:28–5:18
6
How are corporate contributions to Pride viewed in light of recent backlash?
5:18–6:01
7
What do guests think about the commercialization of Pride Month?
6:01–7:40
8
How can companies genuinely support the LGBTQ community?
7:40–51:26
Speakers
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