Major sponsors pull out of SF Pride, creating $1.3 million funding shortfall: ‘It stings for anybody to desert us’

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Four major corporate sponsors have pulled out of San Francisco’s 2025 Pride celebration, creating more than a million-dollar gap in funding. The director of SF Pride said the Trump administration has disrupted funding efforts.

Sponsors Comcast, Anheuser-Busch, Benefit Cosmetics, and Diageo have dropped out. These four companies represent $1.3 million in much needed funding. Wine company La Crema is still in talks with SF Pride to remain a sponsor.

“It definitely felt like the rug was being pulled from under you, but I think we’re going to find some new sponsors, some new partners,” said Suzanne Ford, executive director for San Francisco Pride. “We’re not going to give up. We’re going to knock on every door in this city. We have don’t have a choice; we’re going to have the event.”

La Crema released a statement to KRON4 which reads:

“La Crema remains fully committed to the LGBTQ+ community. While we had to scale back our SF Pride activation this year, it was never our intention to step away entirely and we are still exploring ways to participate. We will continue to support Pride, both nationally and in our backyard, and continue our long-standing advocacy partnership with Equality California.”

Janel Lubanski, PR Director, La Crema

Recently, the event cut ties with local and long-time sponsor Meta due to a lack of fact-checking online and the elimination of DEI programs.

“The backtracking on rights for the LGBTQ community certainly have to be part of any cooperation’s calculus on whether they give us money so I can’t pinpoint the exact reason, but, as we all know now, it’s more difficult than ever to stand up and say you support rights of LGBTQ people,” said Ford.

Ford is hopeful other companies will step up, but she says it’s disappointing to see long-time relationships severed due to a souring climate in Washington.

“It’s coming from all sides for us,” said Ford. “And we’re going to remember who stood by us and this is going to swing back. This won’t last forever; we’re going to fight and we’re going to be okay, but right now it stings for anybody to desert us.”

KRON4 has reached out to all four companies but did not hear back in time for this report.

SF Pride also released an official statement which reads:

At SF Pride, we understand the need to balance corporate sponsorships with our community’s needs. Our goal is to ensure pride remains a place for authentic LGBTQ+ representation and economic power. Sponsorships enable us to make things happen—whether hiring queer staff, underwriting community initiatives, or supporting small LGBTQ+ owned businesses. SF Pride isn’t just a celebration; it’s an economic engine for San Francisco, and we’re committed to leveraging partnerships that align with our mission and core values. To show your support, donate at sfpride.org

SF Pride

SF Pride will take place on June 28 and June 29 with the parade on that Sunday.

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