Rising political and social tensions over environmental policies have had major implications for the fiscal health of pension funds in several US States, according to Brandon Arnold, executive vice president of the National Taxpayers Union. By closing doors to certain investment opportunities follow social mandates establishment by state officials, such as bans on tobacco investment and divestment from firearms, oil and gas, and private prisons, many pension funds are underperforming and therefore financially harming retirees, Arnold wrote in a recent blog post, adding that local authorities in a number of states are exacerbating the problem with rules that limit pension fund investment options.
The owner of a Columbia, South Carolina store, Rick Chow, has been arrested and charged with murder after he allegedly fatally shot 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton on Sunday, 29 May. Chow had suspected the teenager of shoplifting four bottles of water before allegedly pursuing him out of the store and fatally shooting him in the back. Chow had previously been involved in incidents of shoplifting that had turned violent, but had not been charged. Cyrus’s family’s lawyer accused Chow of racially profiling the teenager, declaring: “What happened to him wasn’t an accident, it’s something that the Black community has experienced for generations: being racially profiled, then shot down in the street like a dog”.
The York Catholic District School Board in Canada has refused a motion to hoist the Pride flag at its Ontario headquarters during June, Pride month. The motion was based on the recommendation of the board’s gender, sexuality, and Catholic education committee but a majority of trustees voted against it citing their “Catholic values”. Under normal conditions, this kind of refusal would have little impact on a board’s reputation. However, conservative activists are fuelling a right-wing backlash against destigmatising sexual orientation and gender differences, threatening to undo decades of work for the LGBTQ+ community.
Despite laws and threats targeting Pride events across the state, members of Florida's LGBTQ+ community are pressing ahead with Pride Month and asserting their gender identities. But a series of bills signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, who officially launched a presidential campaign last month, has escalated his assault on LGBTQ+ rights and has made some citizens believe that Florida is openly hostile to LGBTQ+ individuals. Included in five bills targeted at transgender and non-binary people, for instance, are measures to: target the use of appropriate pronouns in schools; prohibit minors from undergoing gender-affirming surgeries and obtaining puberty-blocking medication; and prohibit minors from attending "sexually explicit performances" and punish businesses that allow them to attend by issuing fines and suspending or revoking their alcohol licenses. Large brands such as Target, which removed some Pride items from its shelves the same month, are navigating right-wing attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.
A Forgiato Blow rap song called “Boycott Target” has reached the top of the iTunes chart, in a protest against the chain store’s merchandising for Pride Month. Rapper Forgiato Blow filmed his video in a Target store, with fellow musicians exploring merchandise and riding around in trolleys. The controversial artist’s lyrics include: “They're targeting your kids... this agenda gotta stop and you know we're gonna win.” Target has moved items from its stores to limit confrontations between customers and staff, and has seen its value fall by $10bn in 10 days at the end of May.
Despite negative social media posts from some sections of the population about brands being “woke” and accusations of sexualising or grooming children, a significant number of big companies, including Target, Bud Light, PepsiCo and Starbucks, are continuing to sponsor Pride events in June. In total, 40% of 375 Pride organisations globally said that sponsorship increases were of around 20% or more this year, which may be to do with the buying power of the LGBTQ+ community. An investment company, LGBT Capital, estimates that the US has over 17 million people in the LGBTQ+ community, with upwards of $1tn in spending power. As to the negative social media reaction, last year, comments mostly focused on brands being “inauthentic”, while this year’s thorn in the side of supporters is critical around the rights of transgender people. This has led some sponsors to withdraw their support, while some feel uneasy but do not want to put people in danger. Human rights will win out and companies which in a difficult environment have continued to support Pride will be applauded by the LGBTQ+ community, attendees and supporters.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass has apologised for posting a video on social media recommending that people boycott companies showing support for the LGBTQ+ community. The clip, which cites a Bible verse, had been made by another Instagram user. The Blue Jays said they were "proud to celebrate LGBTQ2S+ Pride Month” and affirmed their commitment to inclusion. Bass stated: "We include all fans at the ballpark. We want to welcome everybody." He declined to answer further questions.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has said that transgender rights and gender equity in the realms of sports, restrooms and locker rooms constitute the "issue of our time". The former South Carolina governor and former ambassador to the United Nations suggested that allowing transgender girls to use restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity is contributing to a rise in suicidal ideation among cisgender teenage girls. Haley has returned to this theme frequently since launching her campaign in February and has criticised the media's treatment of transgender women and girls and their inclusion in sports.
Bud Light sales keep slipping. But it remains America’s top-selling beer
CNN
23-06-06 11:43
Sales of Bud Light beer fell by 23.9% YoY in the week ahead of the Memorial Day weekend due to controversy surrounding an Instagram partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. While that still represents an improvement from the previous week, when sales were down 25.7% YoY, it marks a continuation of a weeks-long decline for Bud Light. The ongoing drop follows Anheuser-Busch’s announcement of increased marketing on the beer and rebate sales to drive consumption. Bud Light remains the top selling beer in America, according to data from research firm NIQ.
Members of Canada’s LGBTQ community have called for Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass to be removed from the team after he shared anti-LGBTQ campaigns on social media. Bass made a public apology, which the team accepted, but critics have said the apology was lacking and Bass should now be let go. Brock McGillis, the first professional hockey player to come out as gay, has said he would like the opportunity to sit down with Bass and explain the impact of his message. The incident has upset longtime Blue Jays fan Sean Addis, who questioned whether he and other members of the community were welcome to attend the team’s games. Bass has since been the target of public booing at baseball games.
British Vogue editor Edward Enninful is due to leave his role next year to become an editorial advisor and global creative and cultural advisor. While he thanked Anna Wintour and CEO of Condé Nast, Roger Lynch, for their continued support, insiders claim that Enninful's decision may have been due to a clash of ideas, with Lynch concerned about his progressive politics. The move comes amid a long-brewing war over the direction of Vogue as it tries to strike a balance between selling its product and appealing to more traditional readers in the Middle East, India and China whilst showcasing diversity. Enninful’s activism seemed to have led to “a deeply political manifesto,” said Farrah Storr, former editor of Elle.
Edward Enninful, British Vogue’s editor-in-chief, is leaving his role next year to become an editorial and creative adviser globally. The decision has prompted questions about his relationship with Anna Wintour, chief content officer for Condé Nast, who has been editor-in-chief of American Vogue since 1988. While Wintour’s world-famous publication has lost advertising revenues and print subscribers, Enninful has revitalised British Vogue to become an outlet for controversial stories featuring disabled and transgender models that has attracted hundreds of millions in advertising from companies such as BMW. However, some have claimed that Enninful’s focus on activism has rendered the publication “joyless” and led to reduced sales. Enninful’s successor will report to Wintour as head of editorial content. The development is part of growing tensions at Condé Nast over the consolidation of resources to run different international territories from Manhattan.
At least three people were arrested in a physical altercation between anti-LGBT+ protesters and supporters outside a Glendale Unified School District board meeting in Los Angeles. The tensions had arisen as a result of the board’s support for Pride Month. Companies including Target and Bud Light have been targeted by right-wing campaigns after promoting Pride-themed product lines.
Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass meets with Pride Toronto director after apologizing for post
CBC
23-06-08 12:12
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass has expressed that he is "in a better place moving forward" after discussions with Sherwin Modeste, executive director of Pride Toronto. This followed an Instagram post where Bass supported a boycott of Target and Bud Light over their support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Modeste said he was happy that Bass was "willing to unpack" some things and that the conversation was "a continuation of learning and this was something we agreed on". The Blue Jays are holding their fourth annual Pride Weekend, starting with a game against the Minnesota Twins on July 16.
Anthony Bass, a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, has attended a meeting with Sherwin Modeste, Pride Toronto's executive director, to apologise for recent anti-LGBTQ+ comments that he shared on social media. During the meeting, Modeste and Bass talked for around an hour, discussing topics including high suicide rates among young people coming out and the importance of community support. The Blue Jays have recently launched their fourth annual Pride Weekend, which features a range of LGBT-themed events and pre-game activities, to kick off a series against the Minnesota Twins. Bass has also expressed how he has learnt from the situation and how he wants to be more sensitive and accepting in the future. He says that he was influenced by his personal, religious beliefs which drew him to re-post the video that sparked the outcry.
Consumer sentiment holds the potential to catapult a brand to success or plunge it into crisis, an op-ed in Harvard Business Review notes. The advice comes after major brands such as Budweiser and Target faced backlash from boycotts triggered by social media storm caused by conservative groups. Starbucks managed to traverse a similar crisis when it faced a potential boycott following a racially charged incident in 2018. The company used swift action to acknowledge the issue and closed all stores for a day of racial-bias education. However, H&M faced a similar boycott and performed poorly due to its "delayed and inadequate response."
The Toronto Blue Jays have cut right-handed pitcher Anthony Bass one day after he said he didn't believe an anti-LGBTQ+ social media post he shared last month was hateful. The team chose to trade Bass or put him on waivers. The move came hours before Bass was scheduled to catch a ceremonial first pitch from Toronto LGBTQ+ activist leZlie Lee Kam, as the team began its fourth annual Pride Weekend celebration. Bass apologised for the May 30 Instagram post against boycotts against Bud Light and Target over LGBTQ+ support.
Toronto Blue Jays drop pitcher Anthony Bass following anti-LBGTQ comments
CNN
23-06-09 21:36
Toronto Blue Jays baseball team has designated pitcher Anthony Bass for assignment after the athlete shared an anti-LGBTQ post on social media last month. The move comes before the team faces the Minnesota Twins in the first of many Pride Weekend games. Although Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins insisted the decision was primarily based on Bass’ performance, he did accept that “distraction was a small part of it and something we had to factor in”. Bass later apologised and met with executive director (ED) of Pride Toronto Sherwin Modeste, whom he called his confrontation with “productive”.
Pride Nights at baseball games are being increasingly criticised and have become a battle between those who are conservative and those who are more progressive. The Los Angeles Dodgers is the latest team to come under fire for allowing an anti-bigotry activist group of queer and transgender drag performers, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, to attend the game and receive a Community Hero award. Fuelled by rightwing media, a backlash against The Sisters caused the team to revoke the invitation. The pushback to Pride Nights has been largely due to the presence of players with strict religious beliefs, a fan base from conservative areas of the US, and Russian players in the National Hockey League. Despite this, 29 out of 30 Major League Baseball teams have continued to have a Pride fixture this season, with the Texas Rangers being the only holdouts. LGBT+ people were pushed out of baseball when it was mainstreamed in the mid-20th century. Now the sport is opening itself up; however, there is pushback from some field players.
Some LGBTQ+ advocates have noticed a reduction in brand partnerships this year during Pride Month as many companies have faced backlash over previous and current support of the LGBTQ+ community. This has been blamed in part on a rise in conservatism fuelled by controversies such as conservative state leaders using homophobic tropes to justify drag show bans and the number of states proposing anti-trans bills, reaching 45 in 2023. Several major corporations have also faced criticism for their failure to provide effective support, including Target's decision to scale down its annual Pride collection and Bud Light's use of trans TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney in an ad. The latter resulted in nearly 30% sales drops and two ad executives being placed on leave, raising concerns over a fear of boycotts.
The definition of Pride is also being questioned and whether it is merely a marketing opportunity. Sonia Thompson, an inclusive brand coach and strategist, says that “moments like this really showcase the depth of commitment brands have to inclusive marketing.” Thompson is coaching a team of advertising agents who represent clients that have never done Pride campaigns and warns against being dissuaded by a vocal minority stating that "if this was a community they really wanted to stand behind, they should not let a vocal minority deter them from doing so". LGBTQ+ influencer Yvie Oddly would rather collaborate with brands outside of June, however, the deals are often better during Pride stating that: “I’m paid drastically differently in June, and I get more opportunities then...Brands know that I am more lucrative for their business during this month”. Experts shared that this year’s Pride has seen several companies limiting their marketing and advertising efforts due to current socio-political backlash towards the LGBTQ+ community.
