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New York Times
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
We've Reached Rainbow Capitalism's End
I remember the heady days when Out magazine, which I edited from 2006 to 2018, would swell each June for L.G.B.T.Q. Pride month, its pages thick with ads. Our offices became cluttered with vodka bottles emblazoned in Pride flags, sneakers in rainbow hues, underwear so festively gay that they might as well have come with a parade permit. That deployment of marketing budgets to support the gay community became known as rainbow capitalism, and for a time it became a good business. So tickled were we by the excess of it all that we once devoted a feature to the annual deluge of swag. 'Look at this,' we seemed to say. 'We've arrived.' Maybe we were naïve. The forces that once propelled corporate America into the arms of L.G.B.T.Q. America have pivoted, retreating under the weight of political backlash and the calculus of risk aversion. The pink pandering hasn't gone away entirely, but the Trump administration's assault on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives has turned Pride from a brightly colored bandwagon for brands to jump on into a possible liability — or worse, a political statement. Consider BarkBox, a purveyor of pet toys and treats, whose leaked internal message in early June laid bare the new corporate zeitgeist: 'We've made the decision to pause all paid ads and life cycle marketing pushes for the Pride kit effective immediately,' it read, adding, 'We need to acknowledge that the current climate makes this promotion feel more like a political statement than a universally joyful moment for all dog people.' What was once 'universally joyful' is now, apparently, divisive. As if Pride were ever meant to be apolitical. The corporate retreat comes at a moment when pressure to reverse marriage equality is growing. This month the Southern Baptist Convention, emboldened by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, set its sights on Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationally 10 years ago next week. What a way to mark an anniversary. BarkBox is no titan of industry, but such skittishness is echoed by giants. Garnier, Skyy Vodka, Mastercard, Anheuser-Busch, Diageo, PepsiCo, Comcast, Citi and PricewaterhouseCoopers have all slashed their Pride commitments this year, fleeing the parades they once clamored to sponsor. Target, long a mainstay of rainbow capitalism, seems to be trying to revive a version of 'don't ask, don't tell' by trying to have it both ways: still a sponsor of New York City Pride but asking organizers to keep their involvement on the down low. (It was also booted as a sponsor of Twin Cities Pride after pulling back on its D.E.I. efforts.) Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Shop 15 early Amazon Prime Day pet deals on toys, beds, treats
With Amazon Prime Day 2025 officially slated to run from Tuesday, July 8 through Friday, July 11, the early deals have already started to appear, and while anticipate even more to drop in the coming weeks, now is the prime time to get ahead of the shopping rush. If you're in the market for any pet essentials, get ready to explore Amazon's virtual aisles and discover the top early Prime Day pet deals available right now. From essential pet treats and pet foods to cozy beds, convenient automatic litter systems and even pet cameras to keep an eye on your beloved best friend while you're away, you're sure to find a deal that fits your budget. What's more, many of these pet-centric offers qualify for additional savings when you opt to Subscribe & Save and clip digital coupons found directly on the product pages. The opportunities to save are plentiful, so be sure to snag these deals before they're gone! Shop early Prime Day pet deals More: BarkBox is giving away free dog toys for an entire year More: Is an Amazon Prime membership worth it? Here's what you need to know More: Amazon Prime for Young Adults is back! Do you qualify for the discount? Find out here More: Amazon Prime Day prep: 15 early tech deals you can't afford to miss Prime Day is Amazon's annual members-only shopping event. It offers limited-time deals, lightning deals, and exclusive discounts on products across nearly every category. It's basically like Amazon's Black Friday sale, but in the middle of summer. Amazon has officially revealed that the Prime Day 2025 sale will run from Tuesday, July 8, through Friday, July 11. The official Prime Day savings start at 12 am PT/3 am ET on Tuesday, July 8. Yes! Amazon typically rolls out early Prime Day deals in the weeks leading up to the main event. USA TODAY Shopping will be covering all the early discounts and live deals during the sale, so be sure to follow along! Aside from Amazon Prime Day being twice as long as previous years, the sale is introducing Today's Big Deals, which will consist of daily themed drops featuring top offers exclusive to Prime members. The savings start now, with three weeks of early deals across categories. Yes, you must be an Amazon Prime member to access the Prime Day deals.
Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
BarkBox is giving away free dog toys for an entire year
AI-assisted summary BarkBox is offering a limited-time deal of one free extra toy in each monthly box for 6- or 12-month subscriptions. The typical BarkBox includes two toys, two bags of treats, and a chew, customized for the dog's size and play style. With the deal, subscribers will receive three toys instead of two, at no additional cost. If your pup's tail wags at the sound of a squeaky toy or the crinkle of a bag of chips, BarkBox has a pet-friendly deal that's perfect for all the good boys out there. For a limited time, pet parents can score a free toy in every BarkBox for up to 12 months. Check out how to enjoy more toys and tail wags with more reasons to spoil your four-legged best friend below. What's the best BarkBox deal right now? When you sign up for a 6- or 12-month BarkBox subscription, you'll receive one bonus toy in every box for the duration of your plan. That means your pup gets three toys instead of two each month at no additional cost. Don't miss out! Get weekly deals, trends and product recommendations from USA TODAY Shopping delivered straight to your inbox. What's in a BarkBox delivery? Each BarkBox is a monthly delivery packed with: 2 original toys (now 3 with this offer!) 2 full-size bags of treats 1 tasty chew All tailored to your dog's size and play style Themes change on a monthly basis. Think: 'Jurassic Bark,' 'Barkbuster Movie Night' or 'Drool Britannia' so your pup never gets bored. Sign up for BarkBox How does BarkBox work? 1. Choose your plan: Start by picking a subscription for your pup Monthly, 6-month or 12-month plans The longer the plan, the bigger the value You can cancel anytime (even the longer plans are flexible) 2. Customize for your pup: Tell BarkBox about your dog to help curate the best products for them Size based on weight (small, medium or large) Allergies (like chicken, beef or turkey) Play style (chewer, cuddler, destroyer, etc.) 3. Get monthly deliveries: Each box includes the below toys, treats and chews 2 themed toys (or 3 with the FEXTFAY deal!) 2 full-size bags of treats 1 chew
Business Insider
07-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Companies are dialing back their Pride Month celebrations — and angering both the left and the right
Corporate Pride is looking a little less proud this year. Companies seem to have followed a common Pride Month playbook for the past several years. The checklist included changing social media avatars to rainbow logos, sponsoring parade floats, making donations, or casting ads a little differently from the rest of the year. This June, corporate Pride seems quieter amid a combination of cultural and political pressure against DEI in general, and the LGBTQ+ community in particular. Brands have been dropping out of sponsoring Pride parades across the country, Pride merchandise collections are getting smaller, and Fortune 500 social-media avatars appear largely unchanged. More broadly, companies have pulled back on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, or at least calling them DEI. The shift has stirred up criticism from both liberals and conservatives. "We're sort of facing a tidal wave of backlash against something that many companies have said they support," Ike Silver, a marketing professor at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business, told Business Insider. This has made Pride Month a bigger balancing act for companies this year, particularly those that have openly embraced it in the past. "There's a little bit of a damned if you do, damned if you don't sort of element to this," said Graham Nolan, a PR professional who cofounded Do the Werq, a platform for queer representation in the marketing industry. Brands face new backlash over their approaches to Pride Month Pride Month had evolved over the past decade into something that companies perhaps felt obligated to participate in at the risk of appearing out of step with societal norms, Silver said. "It's really more about jumping on the bandwagon," he said, "if you're not getting a boost from it, you might as well not court the backlash." But as reactions to Target — and more recently BarkBox — have shown, brands that have openly embraced Pride Month in prior years face considerable risk stepping back (or even appearing to pull back) from it. Target was one of the most prominent major consumer brands supporting LGBTQ+ Pride. Two years ago, it included Pride merchandise across its stores, but this year and last, it offered a smaller, gentler selection in about half of its locations. A company spokesperson said Target also sponsors local events. "We are absolutely dedicated to fostering inclusivity for everyone," the spokesperson said in a statement to BI. BarkBox found itself in hot water this month when an employee's internal communication suggested the company pull promotions for its Pride merch, comparing them to MAGA products. The leaked message sparked outrage and an apology from founder and CEO Matt Meeker, who said the company stands by its Pride products. Companies haven't had the best time sticking the landing with Pride Pride Month, Nolan said, became "more a checklist of corporate fears than it was a checklist of consumer desires." People never asked for brands to add rainbows to their logos, for example, Nolan said. Some companies have faced pressure from more left-wing groups that accused them of "rainbow washing," or capitalizing on LGBTQ+ people without providing a tangible benefit to the community. Pride Month became more of a minefield in the last two years as conservatives took aim at Bud Light's partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, and followed quickly by Target facing blowback for its 2023 Pride merchandise collection. While Bud Light and Target walked back their LGBTQ+ campaigns, the retreats didn't exactly earn them goodwill from either side of the political spectrum. The division between the sides has only grown more pitched under Donald Trump's second presidency. For brands, it can feel like consumers "who oppose the stance see any whiff of support as negative, and those that support the stance will only give you credit if they think that you're really in it," Silver said. "They won't sort of reward these soft steps." Nolan said crafting the right message is increasingly difficult, especially since the very act of speaking to one group can de-emphasize another. "When it's not perfect, what you get is conservatives who are angry about the fact that the work exists, and then you've got liberals who go, 'Yeah, this is a nice ad, but I know this about your hiring practices,'" he said. New risks change the calculus — and provide new opportunities Beyond the growing political polarization, the issue is further complicated for companies by the threat of government pressure. Trump has shown a willingness to go after companies because of their diversity policies. While taking a stand in the face of real risk can make a company's motives seem more sincere (think Costco or Ben & Jerry's founders, which have defended their stances on diversity), Silver said consumers don't typically punish companies that remain truly neutral. Whether they choose to publicly embrace Pride Month or not, Nolan hopes companies will strategize behind the scenes about strengthening their relationships with the LGBTQ+ community year-round. With shoppers weighing in on social media and scrutinizing companies' moves over the past months, it's clear that shifting positions in either direction can be risky. "When you flip-flop, you lose the people who supported you when you are taking a position," Silver said. "And you don't necessarily regain the people who are against your position."
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
BarkBox employee compared Pride to MAGA in leaked memo. The CEO apologized.
BarkBox employee compared Pride to MAGA in leaked memo. The CEO apologized. "I do not agree with the content of the message," BarkBox founder and CEO Matt Meeker said. "It wasn't good, it doesn't reflect our values and I'm deeply sorry that it happened." Show Caption Hide Caption Organizers say political pressure is motivation to continue celebrating Pride Organizers say political pressure is motivation to continue organizing and celebrating Pride, although some corporate support dwindles. Less than a week into Pride Month, BarkBox is receiving backlash for a leaked memo that compares an LGBTQ+ themed pet collection to the Make America Great Again movement. Now the monthly dog subscription service's CEO is looking to make amends. The memo, shared to Reddit this week, informed a group of employees that the monthly dog subscription service would cease advertisements for its Pride collection, which includes several Pride and rainbow accessories. The memo was shared by one employee to a small group of others, BarkBox confirmed to USA TODAY. "While celebrating Pride is something we may value, we need to acknowledge that the current climate makes this promotion feel more like a political statement than a universally joyful moment for all dog people," the memo shared on Reddit reads. "If we wouldn't feel comfortable running a promotion centered around another politically charged symbol (like a MAGA-themed product), it's worth asking whether this is the right moment to run this particular campaign." BarkBox CEO: 'It wasn't good' In a social media statement shared on June 4, BarkBox founder and CEO Matt Meeker apologized for the leaked memo. "I do not agree with the content of the message," Meeker wrote. "It wasn't good, it doesn't reflect our values and I'm deeply sorry that it happened." As of June 6, BarkBox's Pride collection was promoted on the BarkBox website. Since the leaked memo, Meeker shared that 100% of the proceeds from the collection will be donated to the LGBTQ resource, Kaleidoscope Youth Center in Columbus, Ohio. DEI: What fueled the Target DEI boycott? The answer may surprise you Pride Month: What are the safest places for gay and trans people? See where your state ranks What else did the BarkBox memo say? "After some thoughtful discussion today with leadership, we've made the decision to pause all paid ads and lifecycle marketing pushes for the Pride kit effective immediately," the memo shared on Reddit begins. "This isn't about backing away from support − it's about tone and ensuring our marketing remains inclusive and welcoming to everyone in our community. Right now, pushing this promo risks unintentionally sending the message that 'we're not for you' to a large portion of our audience," the memo concludes. BarkBox did not confirm when the memo was sent, or by who. What is BarkBox's Pride collection? BarkBox's Pride collection features more than 25 LGBTQ+ themed toys, including a rainbow tug toy, "slay the drag queen" plush and "gaylien," an alien plushy with a T-shirt that reads, "Take me to your leather," a reference to the queer leather community. These items an be added to any BarkBox for an upcharge. A typical BarkBox, which is $24 a month, includes two toys and two treats each month. More Pride Month: Trump's actions on LGBTQ+ issues in Pride Month criticized as 'bullying' by advocates Memo leak follows other national brands moving away from DEI The memo follows a string of companies who have eradicated or pulled back on DEI − diversity, equity and inclusion − programs, including Target, Walmart, Amazon and McDonald's. The DEI rollbacks began after President Donald Trump took office. As soon as he could, the president issued executive orders to dismantle DEI by putting pressure on federal contractors to end "illegal DEI discrimination" and direct federal agencies to draw up lists of companies that should be investigated for their DEI policies. And while Trump has been successful in part during his first 100 days in office, there are still countless major companies publicly backing DEI, including Costco, American Express, Apple and Levi's. Contributing: Jessica Gunn, USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
