You can blame Kid Rock and Ron DeSantis, but at some point, every
choice a business makes has become political.

Target saw that earlier this year when it faced a huge backlash
simply for selling "Pride" merchandise. The chain met with boycotts
and had to pull the merchandise from its shelves in order to protect
the safety of its workers.

That led to Target (TGT) - Get Free Report CEO Brian Cornell trying
to both commit to selling Pride merchandise in the future while also
hedging his comments during his chain's second-quarter earnings
call.

"Specific to pride and heritage months, we're focused on building
assortments that are celebratory and joyous with wide-ranging
relevance, being mindful of timing, placement, and presentation," he
said, "...Our goal is to ensure we continue to celebrate moments
that are special to our guests, while acknowledging that, every day,
for millions of people, they want Target to serve as a refuge in
their daily lives."
Basically, Target wants to keep supporting its associates and
selling a diverse array of products, but it's also wary of doing
anything seen as political. That's not a bold stance, but it's a
sensible one in a world where Walt Disney faced a "woke" backlash
because it shows gay and trans people in its movies and shows.
Anheuser-Busch (BUD) - Get Free Report saw sales drop by 30% after a
minor online-only one with transgender social media influencer Dylan
Mulvaney.

Supporting LGBTQ+ shouldn't be seen as a political gesture, but
politicians like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entertainers like Kid
Rock have created that environment. It's not universal — Walmart
sells its own Pride merchandise without any sort of backlash — but
any business that makes a public stand supporting the LGBTQ+
community runs the risk of boycotts and backlash.

That makes MGM Resorts International's (MGM) - Get Free Report
choice to remain a presenting sponsor of the Oct. 6 Las Vegas Pride
Parade a political decision, even if the company is simply trying to
support part of its workforce and a segment of its customer base.

MGM continues to support Las Vegas' Gay Pride Parade
Disney got into trouble with DeSantis and his right-wing supporters
because its employees forced former CEO Bob Chapek to speak out
against a piece of the governor's legislative agenda. The Mouse
House has always supported the LGBTQ+ community, hosting Pride
events, and being openly welcoming and supportive of the community.

That long-standing support did not protect the company when DeSantis
opted to paint it as woke for its inclusive stance. Bud Light did
not have the same history as Walt Disney in welcoming the LGBTQ+
community, but all the beer brand did was a minor social media
promotion aimed at Mulvaney's followers.

What happened to both companies — Bud Light lost nearly 30% of its
sales while Disney has seen a smaller, but meaningful impact — shows
how vulnerable companies are who make choices that some right-wing
audiences will see as woke.

That's the risk MGM is taking by signing on as a presenting sponsor
of the Las Vegas Pride Parade and Festival for the 16th consecutive
year.

MGM makes a statement
MGM will have a float in the parade and has openly encouraged
employees to take part in the event, inviting them to march
alongside the company's entry.

“We are proud to reaffirm our support for the LGBTQIA+ community and
celebrate love in all its forms,” Jyoti Chopra, chief people,
inclusion, and sustainability officer at MGM Resorts, said in a
statement to Casino.org. “Our participation is an extension of our
ongoing efforts to foster a more inclusive and equitable world.”

The parade's organizers understand that the event comes with risks
and shared its safety plan on its website.

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choice-risks-bud-light-style-backlash/ar-AA1hJQJJ