5 of the Biggest Corporate Sponsors of Pride Parade Events

Pride parades and other celebratory events that are supported in large part by corporate sponsors occur every June in the United States to commemorate LGBT Pride Month and support the LGBT’s stated values of diversity and toleration.

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The first Pride parade in the United States. occurred in 1970 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots – a nearly three-week response to the police raid on the popular gay bar, Stonewall Inn, in New York City. A year after the riot, LGBT activists began a “Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day” march on the street where the riot occurred.

By the 1980’s, many major U.S. cities held these Pride parades, and in 2011 President Barack Obama declared June officially to be LGBT Pride Month.

Below are listed 5 of the biggest corporations that sponsor these Pride parades:

1. Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo donated between $10,000 and $20,000 to support the St. Pete Pride parade in Florida, according to the Tampa Bay Times. In addition, over approximately 200 of its employees marched in the parade.

2. Macy’s
Macy’s will participate in 23 Pride parades this June across the country as part of its annual “Pride + Joy” campaign, according to its website. Macy’s believes that this sponsorship “continues to highlight Macy’s long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion and respect.”

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3. Hilton
Hilton will be the official host hotel partner for Capital Pride Alliance’s 40th Celebration of Pride this year in Washington, D.C., according to Capital Pride’s website.

4. eBay
Under the “My Charities” tab on its website, eBay allows its sellers to donate part or all of the proceeds from their items sold on eBay to Pride events and parades.

5. TD Bank
This bank has been supporting Pride parades and festivals in multiple cities since 2009 and spends approximately $1 million annually on parades and events, including 20 different venues in 2014, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

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