Pride Toronto is in peril as major corporate sponsors, Google and Home Depot, have unexpectedly withdrawn their support, with organizers unequivocally pointing to Donald Trump’s “DEI war” as the underlying cause. This latest blow follows earlier departures from Nissan, Adidas, and Clorox, creating a critical financial challenge for the festival.
Kojo Modeste, the executive director, recounted receiving brief, one-line emails from Google and Home Depot, signaling their abrupt disengagement from the festival. The loss of these significant contributions directly impacts Pride Toronto’s ability to cover essential operational costs, including staff salaries, payments to hundreds of local artists, and maintaining the festival’s free admission policy for its three million annual attendees.
Modeste expressed deep-seated worry about the festival’s long-term sustainability, stating his concern about potentially having to “drastically cut what the festival looks like for 2026.” This would significantly reduce the scale and accessibility of an event that has become a cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ community in North America.
Professor Sui Sui of Toronto Metropolitan University, whose research focuses on DEI, offers academic support for Modeste’s assertions. Sui contends that the White House’s continued attacks on diversity and inclusion are leading corporations to distance themselves from events they once eagerly supported, highlighting a shift in corporate social responsibility due to political pressure.