Major U.S. corporations are scaling back or withdrawing support from LGBTQ+ Pride events nationwide in response to President Donald Trump’s aggressive rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. This shift marks a significant departure from recent years when corporate sponsorship was a prominent feature of Pride celebrations.
In January 2025, President Trump signed executive orders dismantling federal DEI programs, including Executive Order 14151, which ended government DEI initiatives, and Executive Order 14168, which redefined sex in federal policy as strictly male or female. These actions have influenced corporate strategies, with companies reassessing their involvement in DEI-related activities to align with the current administration’s policies.
As a result, corporations such as Mastercard, Citi, Pepsi, and Nissan have withdrawn sponsorships from major Pride events in cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. In Virginia, several companies pulled support from Pridefest, the state’s largest LGBTQ+ celebration, leading to concerns about funding shortfalls and increased security measures.
According to Gravity Research, approximately 39% of businesses are reducing their external involvement with Pride Month events this year. This trend reflects a broader national movement of corporate America distancing itself from DEI initiatives amid political and economic pressures.
The retreat has prompted responses from various sectors. Faith leaders, organized by the Interfaith Alliance, are calling on religious organizations to reaffirm their support for LGBTQ+ communities, emphasizing that religion should be a source of inclusive support rather than discrimination.
While some cities like Boston have retained corporate sponsorships for Pride events, the overall trend indicates a significant shift in corporate engagement with LGBTQ+ initiatives. This development underscores the impact of federal policy changes on corporate behavior and the evolving dynamics of public-private partnerships in social advocacy.
