Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Burbank Walmart Supercenter.
Alan J. Cockroach | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
Walmart It confirmed on Monday that it would end some diversity initiatives, remove some LGBTQ-related merchandise from its website and close a nonprofit that funded programs for minority groups.
The nation’s largest employer, with about 1.6 million American workers, is increasingly abandoning diversity, equity and inclusion efforts after feeling pressure from conservative activists.
Some also attribute changes in U.S. Supreme Court decisions to Shot down last year The university’s affirmative action program.
These companies include tractor supplywhat June said is Eliminate DEI roles And stop sponsoring Pride. Lowe’s, Ford and Molson Coors besides walk back Some of their equity and inclusion policies recent months.
Others, such as Anheuser-BuschBud Light and Targethave Facing backlash and declining sales After marketing campaigns or merchandise targeting the LGBTQ community.
Walmart said in a statement that it was “willing to change together with our associates and customers who represent all of America.”
“We are always on the road, knowing we are not perfect, but every decision is driven by a desire to foster a sense of belonging, open doors of opportunity for all of our associates, customers and suppliers, and to be a part of Walmart for everyone,” the statement said.
Among the changes, Walmart will no longer allow third-party sellers to sell some LGBTQ-themed items on Walmart.com, including items marketed to transgender youth, such as chest straps, company spokesperson Molly Blakeman said.
She said the company also recently decided to stop sharing data with the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit that tracks companies’ LGBTQ policies, or other similar groups.
Additionally, the giant retailer is closing the Center for Racial Equity, a nonprofit organization Walmart launched in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests. At the time, Walmart and the company’s foundation Pledges $100 million over five years to fight systemic racism and create center.
Last year, the company phased out its supplier diversity program, which provided preferential financing to certain groups such as women and minorities, after the Supreme Court decided to strike down affirmative action.
It also no longer uses the term “diversity, equity and inclusion,” or DEI, in company documents, employee titles and employee resource groups. For example, its former chief diversity officer position is now called chief belonging officer.
However, Blackman said Walmart will continue to provide grants, disaster relief and funding to events like Pride parades, but will provide more guidance on how the funds will be used.
Some of the recent changes come under pressure from conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who has threatened a consumer boycott of Walmart. Starbucks, an outspoken opponent of DEI who has also criticized Tractor Supply, touted Walmart’s changes in a post on victory”.
Blackman said Walmart had conversations with Starbucks last week and is already making some DEI-related changes.
Walmart DEI changes first announced by Bloomberg News.
