WILTON MANORS, Fla. – LGBTQ organizations across South Florida are getting ready for pride month events.
Many have reported a loss in sponsors and some funding due to recent changes in political policies.
Jameer Baptiste is with Stonewall Pride Wilton Manors which will celebrate its 25th year on June 14.
“You’re out there and you’re hitting the pavement and you’re getting those no’s and the doors closed in your face because of the current climate,” said Baptiste.
As Pride season in the U.S. enters its peak this summer with World Pride slated to take place in our nation’s capital June 7.
LGBTQ organizations across the country are reporting substantial cuts in funding, stemming from corporations pulling their support away from sponsoring pride events.
Organizers say it’s a direct result from many corporations ending Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs in alignment with President Trump’s Administration policies.
In March, a deadline was put into place to require all the military services to spend countless hours poring over years of website postings, photos, news articles and videos to remove any mentions that “promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
The orders set off a scramble among many corporations, universities, law firms and major philanthropies to figure out how to adapt their DEI policies to avoid losing federal funding.
For nonprofits whose very mission involves providing services to historically marginalized communities, the executive orders pose an existential threat, driving several lawsuits alleging Trump’s orders are impossible to comply with because they are so vague about what constitutes “illegal” DEI.
“From last year to this year, you know it’s like a total 180,” said Baptiste.
Baptiste said the event has seen about a 20 percent decline in corporate support.
Bruce Horwich with Miami Beach Pride which just took place back in April, said it too saw a significant cut in funding from corporations and international visitors.
“We can’t go back into the closet. Progress is made slowly. Unfortunately, right now it’s not two steps back or three steps back. It’s probably about 10 steps back,” said Horwich.
In March, the U.S. government terminated at least 68 grants to 46 institutions totaling nearly $40 million when awarded, according to a government website. Some of the grant money has already been spent, but at least $1.36 million in future support was pulled as a result of the cuts, a significant undercount because estimates were available for less than a third of grants.