BENTONVILLE, AR. (THECOUNT) — Walmart has confirmed its decision to scale back on some of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The company announced it would remove certain LGBTQ-related merchandise from its online store, specifically those marketed to transgender youth such as chest binders. Additionally, Walmart stated that third-party sellers would not be permitted to sell certain LGBTQ-themed items on its website. This reflects a broader trend among major companies to scale back DEI efforts, partially influenced by conservative activist pressure and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action.
Walmart is also winding down its commitment to initiatives like the Center for Racial Equity, which was established in 2020 with a $100 million pledge over five years to combat systemic racism. The company has stopped sharing data with organizations that track corporate LGBTQ policies, such as the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
|
Advertisement |
Walmart’s changes include altering titles and terminology related to DEI within the company. For example, the chief diversity officer role has been renamed to chief belonging officer.
Despite these rollbacks, Walmart indicates it will continue to provide grants, disaster relief, and funding for events like Pride parades, albeit with more stringent guidelines on their utilization. The retailer’s moves have been partly attributed to influences from conservative activists, with notable pressure coming from Robby Starbuck, who has targeted Walmart and similar corporations. While these changes were already in progress, conversations with Starbuck have reportedly influenced their development.
A quick look at the Walmart website showed everyday Pride items still featured.
DEVELOPING::