Pride Month Kicks Off As Companies Struggle to Navigate Conservative Backlash

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 1 June 2023

⏱️ 57 minutes

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Summary

In recent months, protesters targeted businesses including the Los Angeles Dodgers, retailer Target and beer maker Anheuser-Busch for celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. While many companies rushed to embrace the queer community in recent years, in the face of intense backlash, they are now struggling to navigate the political and social divides. Meanwhile, gay rights advocates say now is the time for companies to take a strong stand against bigotry and hate. As Pride Month kicks off, we’ll talk about the recent surge of homophobic protests and how individuals and companies are responding. Guests: Tom Temprano, managing director of external affairs, Equality California, an LGBTQ+ rights advocacy organization Sister Unity, board member, Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc. Leticia Miranda, U.S. retail & consumer columnist, Bloomberg Opinion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Support for Forum comes from Rancho La Puerta, boated the number one wellness resort and spa by readers of travel and leisure magazine in 2024.
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0:34.4	From three-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown comes the story of Leo and Lucille Frank,
0:40.6	a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is accused of an
0:46.3	unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and
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1:09.0	From KQED.
1:25.3	From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Marisa Lagos in for Alexis Madrigal.
1:28.6	It's Pride Month, and that means parades and other celebrations,
1:35.4	but this year it also means backlash against companies and organizations embracing the LGBTQ plus community. From Target to Bud Light and the Los Angeles Dodgers, we'll get into how these companies
1:41.0	are responding to homophobic protests and talk about how gay rights advocates say
1:45.6	they should react. We'll get into all of it that's coming up next after this news. Welcome to Forum. I'm Risa Lagos and for Alexis Madrigal.
2:16.7	Target has been selling Pride Month merchandise for close to a decade, but this year moved those displays in some stores after customers complained and threatened workers.
2:25.7	Bud Light recently apologized to its customer base for partnering with a transgender influencer on social media.
2:30.9	And in Los Angeles, the Dodgers baseball team announced plans to give a
2:34.8	community service award to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, then rescinded the award because
2:39.6	of backlash from conservative Catholic groups. They eventually re-invited the queer nuns back to
2:44.4	accept the award, following backlash to the backlash. Pride Month has been a source of celebration
	...

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