Walmart announced on Monday that it is discontinuing some of its diversity initiatives, taking some LGBTQ-related products off its website, and closing a foundation that provided funding for minority programs.
Following criticism from conservative activists, the country’s largest employer, employing over 1.6 million people in the United States, joined an increasing number of businesses that have retreated from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last year that invalidated college affirmative action policies has also been blamed by some for the developments.
Among these businesses is Tractor Supply, which announced in June that it was discontinuing its sponsorship of Pride festivals and cutting DEI positions.In recent months, Lowe’s, Ford, and Molson Coors have also retracted portions of their inclusion and equity initiatives.
Others, like Target and Bud Light, owned by Anheuser-Busch, have seen severe criticism and a decline in sales following advertising campaigns or products that target the LGBTQ population.
Walmart said in a statement that it is open to change with its employees and consumers, who speak for all of America.
The statement stated that although we are aware of our imperfections and have been on a journey, every choice we make is motivated by the desire to create a sense of community, provide opportunities for all of our employees, clients, and suppliers, and to be a Walmart for everyone.
Bloomberg News was the first to report on Walmart’s DEI modifications.
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Walmart will no longer permit third-party vendors to sell some LGBTQ-themed products on its website, such as chest binders that are targeted at transgender adolescents, according to company spokesperson Molly Blakeman.
According to her, it also just made the decision to no longer share data with groups like the Human Rights Campaign, a charity that monitors businesses’ LGBTQ policies.
The big-box retailer is also closing the Center for Racial Equity, a nonprofit organization it founded in 2020 in response to nationwide protests following George Floyd’s murder. In order to combat systemic racism and establish the center, Walmart and the company’s foundation at the time committed $100 million over five years.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling invalidating affirmative action, the corporation has phased off supplier diversity initiatives that provided preferred financing to certain groups, including women and minorities, during the past year.
Additionally, the phrase diversity, equality, and inclusion, or DEI, is no longer used in company documentation, employee titles, or employee resource groups. For instance, the position that was formerly known as chief diversity officer is now known as chief belonging officer.
According to Blakeman, Walmart will still provide grants, disaster assistance, and support for events like Pride parades, but with additional restrictions on how the money may be utilized.
Following pressure from conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who threatened a boycott of Walmart by customers, several recent modifications were made. Starbuck, a vocal DEI-opponent who had also put heat on Tractor Supply, touted Walmart s changes in a post on X, describing them as the biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America.
According to Blakeman, Walmart and Starbucks had discussions within the past week and were already working on some DEI-related adjustments.
Bloomberg News was the first to report on Walmart’s DEI modifications.
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