A return to commonsense and moral sanity is raining on Pride parades across the nation as corporations withdraw, or at least scale back, their support. Report after report show that LGBT Pride events have lost major funding from longtime corporate sponsors, with Boise, Idaho cancelling their Pride event due to lack of support.
My colleague, Chris Johnson, wrote about the decline of support for Pride events and what’s behind it on page 4 of our recent newsletter.
For over a decade we’ve been told to salute the rainbow flag or be labeled a bigot. The LGBT ideologues didn’t want our tolerance, they demanded our affirmation of their perverse lifestyles. The Human Rights Campaign pressured corporate America to submit to their pro-LGBT litmus test in order to receive a positive rating. From television ads to store displays, we’ve been inundated with gay pride.
But in the last couple of years the tide has been turning. It first became noticeable when Budweiser thought the best way to reach their target audience was to partner with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney. The ensuing backlash and boycott cost Anheuser-Busch not only their reputation, but a massive loss in sales. Target became another focus for consumers who were fed up with corporations trying to indoctrinate us, rather than just stick to selling quality products. For years Target has actively pushed DEI and LGBT policies such as allowing men in women’s restrooms/dressing rooms and selling transgender chest binders and “tuck-friendly” swimwear for children. After public backlash, and with their stock plummeting 61% over the last five years, Target seemingly cried “uncle” earlier this year, claiming to back off their DEI policies. Yet while most of Target’s Pride paraphernalia is now sold only online and not in stores, Target is still donating $175,000 to the New York City Pride event, but doing so as a silent sponsor, with no public association of their corporate name.
Other corporations are failing to read the room, ignoring the fact that the majority of Americans are fed up with LGBT indoctrination. They defiantly continue to align with and push Pride month propaganda.
One of those corporations is Fifth Third Bank. LGBTCleveland posted: “We’re sending a massive thanks to Fifth Third Bank for helping make this year’s Pride in the CLE® possible! Their support fuels visibility, amplifies LGBTQ+ voices, and helps build a more inclusive, vibrant Cleveland for all.”
In addition, one of our supporters contacted us after discovering that Fifth Third Bank is a Pride event sponsor in her area here in Michigan.
Fifth Third Bank was one of the earliest corporations jumping on the LGBT band wagon. And American Decency Association was one of the earliest, and perhaps only ministry, urging them to leave the parade.
In 2012, only a few major companies outwardly supported Pride Month. By 2022, it was commonplace in corporate America.
Back in 2012 – which feels like a lifetime ago, consider the cultural tsunami that has occurred since – a couple of American Decency staff members went to the Motor City Pride parade in Detroit to monitor the activity and determine the corporate sponsors. The corporation we found to have the highest presence in sponsorship was Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bank.
In our archives I found the email alert our president, Bill Johnson, wrote to you, our readers, in 2012 regarding Fifth Third, which I’ll quote a portion of below.
From Bill Johnson in 2012:
“I wrote a letter to Fifth Third Bank and hand delivered it to our local branch. I told the branch manager that I wanted her to be aware of its content but that I knew that it was a national office matter. As expected, she forwarded it on to her superiors.
“In addition, I emailed the letter to the CEO of Fifth Third Bank, Mr. Kevin Kabat. In part, my letter stated:
‘Most of us have for years lived in a culture where the Biblical world and life view has been unquestioned in this important regard: homosexuality is destructive, degrading, and damaging to the individual, the family, and to a society.
‘There are many concerns surrounding homosexuality like spiritual, legal, health/medical and psychological consequences. I have included information to document some of our concerns here at ADA.
‘As a ministry/organization that has done our banking with you for a number of years, we are asking you to withdraw your support of homosexuality. Unless we can receive a commitment from you that you agree to develop and assume a neutral position in regard to the homosexual culture war, we will discontinue our banking relationship with you. And, we will encourage others to do the same. I say this with regret. However, we will not be a party to such blatant support of a behavior that is undermining our families, community, and nation and dishonors the God who has blessed this nation from its very inception!’
“The above letter was written by me and presented on Monday, June 4 [2012]. I received the following letter on behalf of Fifth Third Bank (Eastern Michigan) written on June 6 and received Monday, June 18 [2012].
‘Dear Mr. Johnson:
‘Mr. Kevin Kabat has shared with me your letter dated June 4, 2012, and I have read your concerns regarding the Bank’s involvement in the Motor City Pride event. I respect your position and I’m sorry that you are considering terminating your relationship with Fifth Third Bank.
‘Fifth Third Bank is very active in supporting the communities in which we do business. Our community and employee base is a diverse one, and we participate in community events throughout the year that represent that diversity. Fifth Third Bank is a financial services company that is here to serve the banking needs of all members of our community. We do not discriminate against any customer, or potential customer, for any reason. I have taken your concerns under advisement.
Respectfully yours,
David Girodat, President and CEO
Fifth Third Bank (Eastern Michigan)’
“For the record, the ADA isn’t asking Fifth Third Bank to discriminate against any customer, or potential customer for any reason.
“We are expressing concern to Fifth Third for their blatant support of a behavior that is undermining our families, community, and nation and dishonors the God who has blessed this nation from its inception.
“We are asking Fifth Third to merely remain neutral in the cultural war.”
Suffice it to say, we did close our accounts with Fifth Third.
Now 13 years later, while other corporations are back peddling from their support for LGBT ideology, Fifth Third is barreling ahead full-bore. And American Decency is still urging them to remain neutral in the culture war.
Join us in calling on Fifth Third Bank to stick to banking and follow the example of others in corporate America who have realized that the American people are sick and tired of having LGBT ideology shoved down their throats.
The Fifth Third Bank CEO is now Timothy N. Spence. Write to him at:
Timothy N. Spence, CEO
Fifth Third Bancorp
38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45263
Or call Fifth Third headquarters at: 800-972-3030
Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, stated: “I think conservatives tend to only think of their power in terms of their wallet. In other words, if they don’t like a company or organization and what they’re doing, they’ll just [stop shopping] there. …” But it’s important to let companies know you’re unhappy with their polices, Hild maintains. “When you send an email or call somebody and say, ‘I don’t appreciate this thing we saw [at] Target,’ [or] ‘We saw this [offensive ad at] Budweiser,’” it has a huge impact, he argued. “Say something both to the company and say something on social media, because they track that kind of thing. So I would say, use your wallet and use your voice.”
We’re seeing the rolling back of LGBT and DEI ideology in corporate America because people like you and groups such as American Decency have stood firm and refused to submit to ideological coercion.
The Pride parade has dwindled, yet it still continues. Our voices are still needed.
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