When They Pull the Plug, We Plug In: Corporate Abandonment of Pride and Our Call to Action
Buy: Anthony Corona.
Blind LGBT Pride International stands outraged yet galvanized by the news that major corporations—including Anheuser-Busch, Comcast, Diageo, and Jackson Family Wines—have pulled out of sponsoring San Francisco Pride 2025, leaving organizers scrambling to fill a $300,000 gap. These companies, many of whom have profited for years off the rainbow dollar, are now conveniently citing “budget issues” rather than acknowledging what we all know: their silence and abandonment are complicit responses to rising anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment and political backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Let’s be clear—this is more than just a funding shortfall. This is a red flag for every grassroots, community-led, and marginalized Pride celebration across the country. If San Francisco, a city internationally recognized as a beacon of queer culture, can lose its corporate backing, what does that mean for Little Rock, Flint, Wichita, or any other small city relying on that support to even exist in Pride month?
Blind LGBT Pride International will not be silent. We will not allow this to pass unnoticed. Our Plan of Action:
1. Name Them. Shame Them. Hashtag Them. We will launch a coordinated social media campaign targeting these corporate sponsors who have turned their backs. Using platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Mastodon, and Threads, we will tag and call out: • @AnheuserBusch • @comcast • @guinnessus @SmirnoffUS @JohnnieWalkerUS • @jacksonfamilywines Suggested hashtags: • #PrideIsNotSeasonal • #RainbowCapitalismExposed • #FundOurPride • #NoPrideWithoutSupport • #ShameOnBud • #ShowUpOrShutUp
We encourage every LGBTQ+ person, ally, and community group to join us in flooding timelines with the truth. These brands were happy to collect LGBTQ+ dollars in June. Now they need to be held accountable.
2. A Coalition for Pride Funding Blind LGBT Pride International is calling on all LGBTQIA+ organizations—local, regional, and national—to band together in a united front to support grassroots fundraising initiatives for Pride celebrations across the country. From GoFundMe campaigns to mutual aid Venmo collectives, from virtual concerts to Pride merch fundraisers—this is the moment to reimagine how we support one another without waiting for corporate dollars to trickle down. We know our community has always been its own safety net. Let’s work collaboratively to amplify each other’s efforts, spotlight underfunded Pride events, and ensure that no city is left behind. Pride was born from resistance and solidarity. Let this be a return to that spirit.
3. Pride Has Been Hijacked by Corporations Over the last 15 to 20 years, Pride celebrations in many cities have morphed into sleek, overly sanitized spectacles tailored for sponsorships rather than the people. Advocacy has been replaced with ad campaigns. Representation has taken a back seat to corporate visibility. We’ve seen rainbow-washed product lines roll out every June, with prices jacked up and little transparency on where that money actually goes. Too many companies have used Pride as a moment to engage with a community that statistically has more discretionary income than our non-LGBTQIA+ counterparts—only to vanish when the political climate changes. Pride has always included our allies and welcomed broader participation, but it was never meant to be a marketing playground or a corporate strategy. This moment is a wake-up call: it’s time we reclaim Pride as a space for community, resistance, and true inclusion—not brand placement.
4. Pride Is Political. Resistance Is Required. San Francisco Pride made the bold and correct decision to cut ties with Meta after their rollback of DEI and LGBTQ+ policies. This should be the model. We stand with Executive Director Suzanne Ford and SF Pride organizers who are resisting sanitization and commodification in favor of integrity and visibility. Blind LGBT Pride International also calls on every Pride organization in the country to publicly list their sponsors—and their allies. Let’s shine a light on the corporations standing with us and those hiding in silence.
5. Accessible, Inclusive, and Independent As a blind-led organization, we also want to highlight the critical need for accessible Pride experiences. Without proper funding, accessibility gets cut first. We cannot let that happen. Our community deserves accessible stages, interpreters, audio description, and transportation support—because Pride belongs to all of us.
A Call to Our Community We know how to rally. We know how to organize. And we know that Pride has never been about flashy floats or corporate booths—it has always been about resistance, resilience, and visibility. Let’s use this moment not just to fill the gap in San Francisco—but to build stronger, more sustainable, and community-owned Pride celebrations everywhere. Let the corporations walk away. We’ve always had each other. In Pride and Power, Blind LGBT Pride International
Website: BPI.gay
Email: media@BlindLgbtPride.org
#FundOurPride #PrideIsPolitical #BlindQueerPower #SupportLocalPride
Yours,
Anthony Corona
He/Him
Host and Producer of Sunday edition
sundayeditionac@gmail.com