Anti-DEI 'Activist' Is Hurting LGBTQ+ Support Among Major Brands
A anti-DEI "activist" is out to destroy diversity, equity and inclusion, and it seems some major product brands are taking the bait.
Conservative Robby Starbuck has reportedly been at the center of some companies recently distancing themselves from LGBTQ+ support, reported USA Today.
"Companies would be wise to remember that they need conservatives to buy their products, too," said Starbuck.
in a Sept. 5 tweet, Starbuck claimed responsibility for Molson Coors withdrawing from the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index.
"Today Coors wants no association with them," Starbuck boasted to his 600,000 followers. However, Coors isn't the only company that has been bending the knee under pressure from the right.
In addition to Molson Coors, Harley-Davidson, Lowe's, Tractor Supply, Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman, and Ford have all chosen not to submit information for HRC's Corporate Equality Index. And they were all targeted by Starbuck.
Another company, tractor maker John Deere, said it would no longer support "social or cultural awareness parades, festivals or events" after being targeted by Starbuck.
Drew Keller, an advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees who analyzed dozens of Starbuck's posts, explained that Starbuck's targeting has been hurting LGBTQ equality the most. says he knows why.
"This is not just a broadside against DEI," Keller said. "It's really a targeted campaign against LGBTQ inclusion."
Seemingly feeling the pressure, Target quietly supported Pride Month this year by scaling back its usual marketing blitz for the month.
"One of the things that a lot of companies are trying to do is not be the next Bud Light, and Robby Starbuck is really playing on that," said Joanna Schwartz, a marketing professor at Georgia College & State University.
Companies don't want to be seen as "woke," bu t
Riding the wave of these consumer boycotts, Starbuck, 35, uses social media to pressure corporate America to back off even more commitments. His efforts have won praise in some circles.
Polling in July by Morning Consult found that while a majority of U.S. adults — nearly 3 in 5 — support corporate DEI programs, men, Republicans and older adults were most likely to disapprove.
Morning Consult also found that men and right-leaning consumers negatively view brands that promote diversity and inclusion as "woke."
"I think that companies are willing to go through the motions to try to tamp down any kind of traction this might have," added Schwartz. "But are companies going to necessarily completely change the way they operate because of him? I really don't think so."