U.S. president Donald Trump’s backlash against Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is having ripple effects across the border into Canada, and it could mean that Pride celebrations this year look a whole lot different.
Last week, Toronto Pride announced that multiple major sponsors had dropped out of the event in the wake of Trump’s anti-DEI movement.
According to executive director Kojo Modeste, one silver and two gold sponsors have pulled their funding from the 2025 festival. Gold sponsors include companies contributing over $150,000, while silver sponsors contribute $100,000.
On Friday, Nissan Canada confirmed that it is one of the companies withdrawing from the festival, with a spokesperson saying it is “solely due to a re-evaluation of all our marketing and media activations.”
Modeste told media last week that he believes the moves are related to the current political climate in the U.S., and said all three companies that have dropped their support also do business in the United States.
Senior editor Mel Woods breaks down what you need to know.
Why you can trust Xtra
