Walmart announced on Monday that it is scaling back some of its diversity and inclusion initiatives, including removing certain LGBTQ-related merchandise from its website and winding down a nonprofit dedicated to supporting minority programs. This move comes as the retail giant responds to mounting pressure from conservative activists and follows a broader trend of companies reassessing their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
As the nation’s largest employer with over 1.6 million U.S. workers, Walmart’s decision aligns with similar actions taken by other major companies. These include Tractor Supply, which eliminated DEI roles and ceased sponsoring Pride events, as well as Lowe’s, Ford, and Molson Coors, which have also adjusted their equity and inclusion strategies.
Walmart emphasized that its actions reflect a desire to evolve with the changing needs of its associates and customers. A company spokesperson stated, “We’ve been on a journey and know we aren’t perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers, and suppliers, and to be a Walmart for everyone.”
Among the specific changes, Walmart will no longer permit third-party sellers to offer certain LGBTQ-themed products on its website, such as chest binders marketed to transgender youth. The company also stopped sharing data with the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit tracking corporate LGBTQ policies, and other similar organizations. Additionally, the Center for Racial Equity, a nonprofit created by Walmart in 2020 following George Floyd’s murder, will be phased out. Walmart had pledged $100 million over five years to combat systemic racism through this center.
The retailer is also scaling back its supplier diversity programs, which had offered preferential financing to women- and minority-owned businesses, following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to strike down affirmative action. Walmart is also moving away from using the term “diversity, equity, and inclusion” in its company documents, titles, and employee resource groups. For example, its former Chief Diversity Officer role has now been renamed Chief Belonging Officer.
Although Walmart will continue to fund grants, disaster relief, and events such as Pride parades, it will now impose stricter guidelines on how this funding can be used.
The changes come in response to pressure from conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who had threatened a consumer boycott of Walmart and recently praised the company’s shift in policy as a “big win” for those seeking to end corporate wokeness. Walmart had been in discussions with Starbuck and had already been implementing some DEI changes before these conversations.
Walmart’s scaling back of its diversity initiatives was first reported by Bloomberg News.
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