MINNEAPOLIS — Target, long a fixture at Twin Cities Pride, has pulled its support for the 2025 festival after scaling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The Minneapolis-based retailer joined major brands like Walmart, Ford, and McDonald’s in retreating from DEI efforts under mounting conservative backlash and new directives from the Trump administration.
Target’s DEI programs once focused on promoting women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals, along with supporting diverse suppliers. But in a stark shift, the company announced it would end these initiatives, sparking disappointment from Twin Cities Pride organizers.
“We are deeply disappointed,” wrote Andi Otto, Executive Director of Twin Cities Pride, in a social media statement. The group vowed to continue discussions with Target and keep the community informed.
This decision follows President Trump’s recent executive order dismantling DEI programs across the federal government, with many corporations quickly following suit. For Target, a longtime supporter of LGBTQ+ causes, the move signals a sharp pivot—and leaves its future relationship with the community uncertain.
As other iconic brands roll back their commitments, the message is clear: corporate America is feeling the heat, and DEI is taking the hit.
