In recent months, prominent U.S. companies have continually pulled back on their initiatives regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), leading some to conclude that societal sentiment toward progressive social ideals is changing. Companies such as Walmart, Molson Coors, Harley Davidson, Ford Motor Company, and Lowe’s have taken charge of what may be a significant reshaping of corporate social engagement.
According to reports, these companies have scrapped various initiatives surrounding DEI, seeking to realign their corporate conduct with the interests of their respective customer bases. For example, some have ceased to participate in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, which assesses workplace attitudes toward the LGBT community.
The trend of ditching DEI follows coordinated efforts from conservative consumers to oppose companies that do not align with their values. For example, 2023 saw the powerful boycott against Bud Light over its collaboration with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney. Furthermore, conservative activist Robby Starbuck has led an extensive operation of exposing companies with woke agendas, pressuring them to abandon such efforts.
The American Tribune previously reported on Walmart abandoning some of its DEI policies following activism from Starbuck, in which he indicated that he had engaged in “productive conversations to find solutions” to this issue. Reportedly, Walmart agreed to take actions such as removing sexualized and transgender products that targeted children and reconsidering grants given to pride-related events. The Tribune wrote:
Although, Walmart maintained that the changes had been proposed for several years and were not the direct result of the conversation with Starbuck. The retail giant explained in a statement to FOX Business, that it is “willing to change alongside our associates and customers who represent all of America.” Joining various other companies, Walmart also announced that it would end its participation in the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, an annual survey intended to assess a business’s commitment to its LGBT employees.
Furthermore, Starbuck also called out Harley Davidson and its German CEO Jochen Zeitz over the beloved motorcycle brand’s corporate wokeness. “Jochen Zeitz is an unusual choice to lead Harley-Davidson. He’s German, he’s an outspoken climate activist,” the anti-woke activist said.
Starbuck continued, “In Harley’s so-called sustainability report, they also say that their 1800 global employees completed a virtual training to learn what an ally is to the LGBTQ+ community, and that employees also participated in an engaging and interactive learning session that allowed them to explore social identities, both seen and unseen.”
“Jochen Zeitz is an unusual choice to lead Harley-Davidson. He’s German, he’s an outspoken climate activist,” he added, further highlighting what Zeitz stands for. “In Harley’s so-called sustainability report, they also say that their 1800 global employees completed a virtual training to learn what an ally is to the LGBTQ+ community, and that employees also participated in an engaging and interactive learning session that allowed them to explore social identities, both seen and unseen.”
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Watch the UFC fighter Sean Strickland sound off on Harley Davidson below:
Featured image credit: Steve Daniels / Harley-Davidson sign in Wootton, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harley-Davidson_sign_in_Wootton_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1372894.jpg