Google and Home Depot drop Pride Toronto sponsorship amid Trump's DEI war

Source: The Guardian

Google and Home Depot drop Pride Toronto sponsorship amid Trump’s DEI war

Organizer points to president’s anti-diversity push as companies join Adidas and Clorox in withdrawing support

Olivia Bowden in Toronto
Fri 30 May 2025 14.39 EDT
Last modified on Fri 30 May 2025 16.16 EDT

In another blow to one of the largest celebrations of LGTBQ+ people in North America, Pride Toronto has unexpectedly lost two more major corporate sponsors, just weeks before the festival in a setback the festival’s organizer says is direct result of Donald Trump’s campaign to eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the US.

Google and Home Depot both announced their plans to abandon the festival in the form of one-line emails, said Kojo Modeste, the executive director of the Canadian event.

Organizers have warned that the loss of sponsors will pose operational challenges for Pride Toronto that attracts 3 million attendees annually. Other organisations, including local trade unions, have stepped in to help make up the shortfall, but Modeste told the Guardian he was deeply worried about the celebration’s future.

“Am I going to have to drastically cut what the festival looks like for 2026? This is not the place that I want to be in,” he said.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/30/toronto-pride-google-home-depot-sponsorship-drop