With Pride festivals and parades fast approaching, organizers in major US cities are scrambling to make up hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost corporate sponsorships.
Many are tapping smaller businesses and local communities to ensure their signature annual events proceed as planned. But they say the shortfalls are cutting into funding to support other LGBTQ programs throughout the year — and their long-term viability.
“Will we be able to keep the doors open?” said San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford. “You know, that’s what I’m most concerned about now.”
While organizers feel burned by longtime supporters that won’t participate this year, ...