Pride Toronto faces a significant challenge ahead of its annual festival as Google and Home Depot withdraw their sponsorship. Executive director Kojo Modeste attributes this setback to the broader political climate instigated by Donald Trump's agenda against diversity, equity, and inclusion. The loss of these sponsors, following previous withdrawals by Nissan, Adidas, and Clorox, raises operational concerns for an event that attracts 3 million attendees. Local organizations are stepping forward to assist financially, but Modeste expresses deep worries about the festival's future and its accessibility for younger generations.
Google and Home Depot both announced their plans to abandon the festival in the form of one-line emails, said Kojo Modeste, the executive director of the Canadian event.
These are American companies and they are showing their true colours, said Modeste. We thought they were with the community, but clearly, they're not.
Corporate sponsorship not only goes towards paying staff, but hundreds of local artists and to keep Pride as a free event.
I don't want to be the one to have to make that decision, to take Pride away from the community.
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