Since June, an increasing number of companies have rolled back their corporate commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Tractor Supply and John Deere were some of the first companies to do so, pulling back some of their DEI policies and sponsorship of Pride events and other “social or cultural awareness” events. In the months since, several others have followed suit—including Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s, and Ford—and revoked their participation in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, which evaluates companies on how inclusive they are of LGBTQ+ employees.
And now, Toyota Motor Inc is the latest automotive corporation to reverse its stance and support of DEI policies and LGBQT+ events after coming under fire from anti-woke activist Robby Starbuck for their funding and support of woke policies and initiatives. The activist drew attention to the companies following policies which include Woke DEI trainings, sponsoring a drag queen program at a summer camp for kids identifying as LGBTQ+, opposing laws that ban sex changes for kids and funding groups who work to make sex changes legal for children.
This move from Toyota appears to be a response to public pressure and backlash, however, since the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, other US corporates have quietly backtracked on DEI-related policies and commitments. This ruling has not only set a precedent for litigation action, it has prompted many organizations and corporations to review their DEI policies and recruitment programs.