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TL;DR
- Toyota has decided to stop sponsoring LGBTQ+ Pride events in the U.S. as part of a shift away from DEI initiatives.
- The decision follows criticism from right-wing commentator Robby Starbuck, who opposed Toyota’s DEI commitments.
- Toyota will also withdraw from cultural surveys and the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
- Other companies like Ford and Harley-Davidson are similarly reevaluating their DEI policies amid public pressure.
Toyota has announced a shift in its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, deciding to halt sponsorship of cultural events such as LGBTQ+ Pride in the United States. This decision follows a “highly politicised discussion” surrounding corporate commitments to DEI. In a memo distributed to 50,000 U.S. employees and over 1,500 dealerships, Toyota stated it will no longer support cultural events unless they are directly related to STEM education or workforce readiness.
The company also plans to withdraw from participating in cultural surveys and will end its involvement in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Corporate Equality Index, where it previously achieved a perfect score for its DEI efforts. Instead, Toyota intends to refocus employee resource groups on professional development, networking, and mentoring aligned with business objectives.
This announcement comes after criticism from right-wing commentator Robby Starbuck, who accused Toyota of being excessively “woke.” Starbuck’s campaign against the company’s DEI policies gained traction on social media, contributing to Toyota’s decision.
Toyota joins other companies such as Ford, Harley-Davidson, John Deere, and Stanley Black & Decker in reevaluating their DEI commitments amid similar pressures. Despite research indicating that Americans are more likely to support brands that back the LGBTQ+ community, some businesses are stepping back from these initiatives due to vocal opposition. The Human Rights Campaign’s 2024 LGBTQ+ Climate Survey found that 80% of LGBTQ+ Americans would boycott companies abandoning DEI policies, with 52% encouraging others to do the same.
Source: Pink News
