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   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.   
      
   https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/mgm-resorts-las-vegas-   
   choice-risks-bud-light-style-backlash/ar-AA1hJQJJ   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)