June 1 marks the beginning of pride – a month-long LGBTQ+ community celebration. However, formerly participants in the rainbow-themed website and company statements, this year looks a little different, and the cold atmosphere of the company’s DEI program has led to Pull backward Celebrations sponsored by companies nationwide.
However, some leaders in the LGBTQ+ advocacy space believe that the rollback has been greatly exaggerated. Glad CEO Sarah Kate Ellis acknowledged that the company’s CEO had to rethink the role of DEI in its company, especially these policies of the Trump administration targeting the private sector. But she also believes that many companies have Stay behind Even if they stop using standard terms.
Ellis and wealth To discuss the country of corporate pride in 2025, this is the biggest concern of LGBTQ+ workers and why she remains optimistic about the future.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
We’ve seen the major companies Move away Sponsor pride from a larger rollback. What have you done about this?
Sarah Kate Ellis: My opinion is that, in fact, the company hasn’t really changed so much. If you see financially the pressure on companies on them, on shareholders, on tariffs and all other trade wars, I think they have other bigger fish to fry.
I think the current government targets companies due to DEI, so companies have to be smarter about their marketing methods so they can attract new consumers and the best among the best employees.
It’s a media story, not a real story, right? Everyone wants to talk about how the company evacuates without that dramatic situation. Given all their financial pressures, there are actually not many people who don’t.
As our community continues to grow, corporate growth strategies target LGBTQ people, especially in the Gen Z field. I haven’t seen a big callback yet. We have seen over 100 brands clearly released (Pride Month). Americans are all about supporting the vast majority of proud companies.
Have you heard from the company’s CEO about DEI rollback?
The CEO of the world’s largest company has not left DEI. They are changing the name because it just puts the target on their back.
I think it will have a greater positive impact on us in the long run. Instead of having a separate DEI (department) that can target, it is now integrating and integrating through all business practices across the company, which has always been our dream. I think they actually help us in many ways that are not yet clear yet, because it is not easy to see.
The company must protect itself. Their motivation is capitalism and some moral compass, but I always rely on capitalism before anything else. I am a realist, I know the society we live and operate, so leverage these tools in society, it’s clear that these companies have to focus on the LGBTQ and Black and Brown communities, or that they don’t have growth plans from the consumer sector and employee base.
Have you found that company leaders are afraid to oppose the government?
They absolutely do not want to be the target of this administration.
Fear is a very strong word because I think these people have a lot of egos to be (become) CEOs of some of these big companies, and they just want to feel smart about it.
If the word “dei” has been weaponized and people don’t actually understand what it is, then (leaders) will move on. Go ahead, have a word or acronym and we will get the job done. That’s a lot of attitudes I see and my conversations. Obviously, we work in a capitalist society, where companies are driven by bottom lines and shareholders, who are still held by stakeholders. And you’re seeing Target.
Target has built its inclusive brand so when they back down, they withdraw their entire brand value. Walmart’s brand value is cost, right? You will get the cheapest stuff. So when they back down, they won’t get the same backlash, because it’s never been their brand value proposition.
What do you think is the biggest problem for LGBTQ+ workers?
I think they are more than just work and life. We know how precious our equality is and that it is not actually completely equal in this country. We are not considered formal citizens. We are not completely equal, but we have seen and heard remarks about the rollbacks we have achieved. I think this is an overall concern in our community.
We have seen the violence so tremendous. Our Alarm desk Tracking violence against our community reports nearly 1,000 incidents per year. 2.5 per day. So, I think what workers are really looking for is job safety. Feeling like you can be safe in a space is probably a priority because everything else will be second if you are not safe.
As a leader, what is inspiring you?
This is a huge opportunity. If we didn’t make much progress and the numbers were behind us, we wouldn’t have such objections. Our family is behind us and our colleagues are behind us, so we will make progress again. It’s a time of crisis for our community and it will change a lot. We are mobilizing, we are organizing, and I think it always takes a step back and moves forward.
