NEW YORK (AP) – Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is rolling back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, joining the ranks of large companies that have come under pressure from conservative activists.
The company confirmed Monday to the Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketing materials to ensure they do not include sexual and transgender products aimed at children. That will include chest straps aimed at young people going through gender transition, the company said.
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer will also review grants for Pride events to make sure they don’t financially support sexual content directed at children. For example, the company wants to make sure that the family arena is not near the drag show at the Pride event, the company said.
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Walmart also will no longer consider race and gender as a way to increase diversity when awarding supplier contracts. The company said it does not have quotas and will not do so going forward. It will stop collecting statistical data when determining the eligibility of funding for such grants.
“We’ve been on a journey and we know we’re not perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, opening doors of opportunity to all our partners, customers and suppliers and being Walmart. for everyone,” the company said in a statement.
Walmart confirmed the changes after hard-line political commentator and anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck posted to X that he was in contact with the retailer about a story he was doing about “resurrection” and said he had “productive discussions” with Walmart.
“This is the biggest win yet for our movement to end corporate America,” wrote Starbuck, who went after companies including Deere & Co., Lowe’s, Tractor Supply and Boeing.
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