The Bud Light boycott shows brands are at a crossroads: Use their voice, or shut up?

Corporations that advocate for LGBTQ rights, including Disney, Bud Light, and Target, are facing backlash, which may potentially cause a reversal in how they support these causes.

Bud Light and Target example: Recent backlash towards Bud Light’s LGBTQ supportive campaign and Target’s in-store Pride displays led to defensive measures by both companies.
* Bud Light put two executives on leave following a decrease in sales after calling a boycott due to an LGBTQ themed promotion.
* Target either relocated or removed Pride items from displays after some customers knocked down or threatened employees over LGBTQ displays.

Historical perspective: Large companies began advocating for LGBTQ rights in the 90s and have played a significant role in changing societal views on these issues.
* Disney launched domestic-partner benefits in 1995, despite condemnation from fifteen Florida state lawmakers, and also persisted despite calls for a boycott.
* Other corporations followed suit, advocating for anti-discrimination laws related to marriage equality and workplace regulations.

Current climate: Companies face pressure and threats to their products and property for supporting LGBTQ causes.
* Many major corporations have become targets, including Apple, Bank of America, Citigroup, CVS, Johnson & Johnson.
* Carlos A. Ball, a Rutgers law professor, argues corporates are feeling intimidated by the backlash against LGBTQ gains from the right wing.

By the numbers: A surge in identification as LGBTQ among younger generations, including 21% of Generation Z and 10.5% of millennials, may influence corporate decisions.
* A Harvard University study that analyzed attitudes data from over 4 million tests between 2007 and 2016 found that anti-gay bias had decreased by 33% over the 10-year period.

Quote: “We run a business. We don’t run a political organization. We don’t run a religious organization, and we don’t run a social organization,” as per Tim Knavish, CEO of PPG Industries.

View original article on NPR

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