Two more corporate sponsors have abandoned Pride Toronto—and it’s giving anti-DEI

With less than a month before the festival, Home Depot and Google are the latest corporate sponsors to leave Pride Toronto in the lurch, according to reporting by the Toronto Star. This comes after Nissan Canada, Adidas and the Abnormal Beauty Company jumped ship (or artfully festooned float) from North America’s largest Pride celebration back in February.

Pride executive director Kojo Modeste believes the dwindling support reflects the current political climate. For a while, supporting LGBTQ initiatives was trending alongside American Apparel’s iridescent deep-V bodysuits, and soulless corporations were falling over themselves to get in on the action. Now—at least in the US—anti-wokeness is in; diversity, equity and inclusion are out; and those same brands are taking off their assless chaps to cover their asses.

Home Depot and Google have also both abandoned DEI language on their websites, so it certainly all tracks. And in the US, Home Depot has a history of backing anti-gay Republican candidates even while the company was funding Pride events. Related: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

At the same time, the cost of operating Toronto’s Pride festival has spiked. (Along with funding dollars, Home Depot provided garbage bags, wood, bins, zip ties and fans—none of which come cheap.) What does all this mean for this year’s festival, which kicks off June 26? That’s still unclear.

Back in February, Modeste said the budget cuts could mean abandoning the usual stage at Dundas and Church and cancelling Pride events on the island. But then the city stepped in with a $350,000 windfall. Mayor Olivia Chow has always supported Pride as an important expression of LGBTQ allyship, an economic driver for the city and a place to wear her beloved adult cheerleader outfit. Related: “My belief in equity wasn’t something I could shut off or hide”—Professor Anne Sullivan on leaving Georgia Tech for York University

At the annual kick-off party on May 1, Modeste said they were feeling “cautiously optimistic” about the funding situation, having brought on some new sponsors. Pride Toronto has also launched a donation program so that regular people can show their support.