San Francisco Pride in financial peril after major corporate sponsors pull support

Four major corporate sponsors have withdrawn financial support for San Francisco's 2025 annual Pride celebration, resulting in a $1.3 million loss in revenue. The sponsors that pulled out include Comcast, Anheuser-Busch, Benefit Cosmetics, and Diageo. Suzanne Ford, the executive director of SF Pride, stated that the event will continue, but organizers will be required to operate on a reduced budget.

Ford suspected that the corporate sponsor pullouts are related to businesses distancing themselves from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the wake of the Trump administration's federal crackdown on DEI policies. While Ford remains hopeful that other companies will step up, she expressed disappointment in seeing long-time sponsors sever ties.

"It's coming from all sides for us," Ford told KRON 4. "And we're going to remember who stood by us and this is going to swing back. This won't last forever; we're going to fight and we're going to be okay, but right now it stings for anybody to desert us."

Recently, SF Pride cut its relationship with Meta, formerly Facebook, after the tech company eliminated its DEI initiatives and reduced its fact-checking services. Meta's move followed shortly after President Trump re-entered the White House in January and signed a series of executive orders that terminated DEI policies in the federal workforce, federal contracting, and expenditures. Additional companies also rolled back their DEI policies, including McDonald's, Walmart, and Harley Davidson.

"I'm very concerned," Ford said in an interview with Fox 2. "Obviously, there's pressure from the federal government. The tone has changed in this country. Businesses already hedge their bets, and I think people who, this isn't the hardcore value of their corporation, maybe they're rethinking their investment."

"The overall budget goal is $2.3 million, and while we have nearly $1 million already committed, we now need to raise an additional $1.3 million to meet our target. We remain focused on securing the necessary funds and appreciate the continued support from our community and partners," said Ford.

SF Pride is a nonprofit organization that organizes a two-day festival and parade each year in San Francisco. This year's theme is "Queer Joy is Resistance." More than one million people are expected to be in attendance, according to their website.

The San Francisco Pride parade has generated heavy criticism from conservatives in recent years due to sexually explicit performances and acts at the festival. Last year, some participants were caught on video having sexual intercourse in public at one of its "fetish zones." Others wear very little or no clothing at all. The event has previously been marketed as "family-friendly," which has resulted in additional backlash.

The annual festival and parade are scheduled to take place June 28 and June 29.