San Francisco Pride (SF Pride), one of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations in the world, is facing financial challenges as several major corporate sponsors have pulled their funding for this year’s event, FOX News reports.
Despite the budget constraints, organizers remain committed to ensuring the annual parade and festival, scheduled for June 28-29, will proceed as planned.
SF Pride’s Executive Director Suzanne Ford confirmed that five corporations—Benefit Cosmetics, Comcast, Anheuser-Busch, Diageo, and La Crema—have either reduced or withdrawn their financial support, resulting in a funding loss of approximately $300,000. With an overall budget goal of $2.3 million, the organization has already secured nearly $1 million but still needs to raise an additional $1.3 million to meet its target.
Ford expressed concern that the funding cuts may be linked to a broader trend of businesses reevaluating their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. She cited a shift in the national political landscape, including federal policies under the Trump administration, as a potential factor influencing corporate decisions.
“The tone has changed in this country,” Ford said in an interview with a local FOX affiliate. “Businesses already hedge their bets, and I think people who, for whom this isn’t a core value of their corporation, maybe they’re rethinking their investment.”
While most of the companies that withdrew sponsorship have not publicly commented, La Crema clarified its position, stating that it remains committed to supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
“While we had to scale back our SF Pride activation this year, it was never our intention to step away entirely,” La Crema said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “We are in ongoing conversations with the organizers and hope to still find a way to partner at this year’s event.”
The company also emphasized that it has not distanced itself from DEI initiatives and continues to support Pride events nationwide.
The financial strain on SF Pride comes amid a broader rollback of corporate DEI programs. Companies including Facebook, McDonald’s, Walmart, and Harley-Davidson have reportedly scaled back or discontinued their DEI efforts. At the federal level, President Donald Trump has issued executive orders restricting DEI initiatives in the government workforce, contracting, and spending.
Despite these challenges, SF Pride remains focused on securing funding and ensuring the event’s success. This year’s theme, “Queer Joy is Resistance,” reflects the organization’s commitment to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community amid evolving political and economic conditions.
Ford reaffirmed that SF Pride will continue as planned, with or without the lost sponsorships.
