US supermarket giant to withdraw from LGBTQ initiatives, reports say
Walmart has joined the growing list of companies returning to what activists refer to as “normalcy.” Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
**Walmart to Halt Consideration of Race and Gender in Supplier Contracts**
Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, has opted to retract its diversity initiatives due to pressure from conservative activists. This decision aligns with a broader movement in the United States that has been characterized as a shift back to “normalcy.”
According to reports from Bloomberg and the Associated Press on Monday, Walmart will scale back its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program. DEI encompasses efforts aimed at ensuring equal representation for individuals from various backgrounds, irrespective of their race, gender, or disability status.
The corporation has decided it will no longer take race and gender into account when awarding supplier contracts. Additionally, it will cease using the term “DEI” in official communications, limit racial equity training for employees, discontinue its involvement with the Corporate Equality Index, and reassess its support for Pride and other similar events. Some LGBTQ-related products aimed at children will also be removed from its online marketplace.
Recently, conservative influencer Robby Starbuck, who aims to "bring sanity back to corporate America," pledged to highlight what he perceives as "wokeness" within Walmart. On Monday, he stated via X that the retailer had consented to these changes after engaging in “productive conversations to find solutions.”
As reported by the Associated Press, some of these policy adjustments, including the reduction of the use of the term DEI in job titles and communications, have been ongoing efforts.
With a workforce of 1.6 million in the U.S., Walmart has become the latest and most significant corporation to retreat from its diversity initiatives. Other companies, including Harley Davidson, John Deere, Boeing, Polaris, Ford, Jack Daniels, and Caterpillar, have also recently announced modifications to their corporate policies.
“Companies can clearly see that America wants normalcy back. The era of wokeness is dying right in front of our eyes. The landscape of corporate America is quickly shifting to sanity and neutrality,” wrote Starbuck, who has over 700,000 followers on X.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, noted his approval by commenting “Great!” in response to Starbuck’s announcement.
Previously, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has appointed Musk as his government efficiency adviser, intends to abolish DEI initiatives in workplaces and educational institutions when he takes office in January.
The resistance against corporate DEI policies gained momentum after a 2023 ruling in the *Students for Fair Admissions vs Harvard* case. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June of the previous year that it is unconstitutional to consider race in university admission decisions. Conservative organizations have begun making analogous arguments regarding corporations and their workplace initiatives, including DEI.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, has opted to retract its diversity initiatives due to pressure from conservative activists. This decision aligns with a broader movement in the United States that has been characterized as a shift back to “normalcy.”
According to reports from Bloomberg and the Associated Press on Monday, Walmart will scale back its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program. DEI encompasses efforts aimed at ensuring equal representation for individuals from various backgrounds, irrespective of their race, gender, or disability status.
The corporation has decided it will no longer take race and gender into account when awarding supplier contracts. Additionally, it will cease using the term “DEI” in official communications, limit racial equity training for employees, discontinue its involvement with the Corporate Equality Index, and reassess its support for Pride and other similar events. Some LGBTQ-related products aimed at children will also be removed from its online marketplace.
Recently, conservative influencer Robby Starbuck, who aims to "bring sanity back to corporate America," pledged to highlight what he perceives as "wokeness" within Walmart. On Monday, he stated via X that the retailer had consented to these changes after engaging in “productive conversations to find solutions.”
As reported by the Associated Press, some of these policy adjustments, including the reduction of the use of the term DEI in job titles and communications, have been ongoing efforts.
With a workforce of 1.6 million in the U.S., Walmart has become the latest and most significant corporation to retreat from its diversity initiatives. Other companies, including Harley Davidson, John Deere, Boeing, Polaris, Ford, Jack Daniels, and Caterpillar, have also recently announced modifications to their corporate policies.
“Companies can clearly see that America wants normalcy back. The era of wokeness is dying right in front of our eyes. The landscape of corporate America is quickly shifting to sanity and neutrality,” wrote Starbuck, who has over 700,000 followers on X.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, noted his approval by commenting “Great!” in response to Starbuck’s announcement.
Previously, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has appointed Musk as his government efficiency adviser, intends to abolish DEI initiatives in workplaces and educational institutions when he takes office in January.
The resistance against corporate DEI policies gained momentum after a 2023 ruling in the *Students for Fair Admissions vs Harvard* case. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June of the previous year that it is unconstitutional to consider race in university admission decisions. Conservative organizations have begun making analogous arguments regarding corporations and their workplace initiatives, including DEI.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
