Palm Springs Pride organizers attribute sponsor stability to local businesses, community support

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Pride organizers across the United States are seeing corporate sponsors withdrawing from their Pride celebrations this year, according to CNN.

These reports came from organizers in California, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Texas. Some said if the sponsors hadn't completely withdrawn; they had asked to be quiet contributors making promotions and visibility difficult.

Organizers for St. Louis Pride told CNN it is $150,000 under its fundraising goal after losing a major sponsorship from beer giant Anheuser-Busch, which had been a 30-year partnership.

News Channel 3 reached out to Palm Springs Pride to see if its organizers are experiencing similar sponsor withdraws ahead of the November event. President and CEO Ron deHarte said the organization is on track for this year's celebration.

While they still expect challenges, including rising costs across the board, organizers feel at ease because "pride is not corporate label," according to deHarte.

"Pride is people. Pride is people in the community," deharte said. "And the small fraction of corporations that may be changing their course; that does not reflect pride organization across the country."

It's the community that keeps organizers from worrying. Local businesses have been one aspect of consistency for the event.

Roadrunner Print and Ship is an LGBTQ-owned business and has been supporting Palm Springs Pride since it opened in 2021. Owner Bob Kincaid hopes other Coachella Valley businesses join in supporting Pride and understand its importance.

"It's our one time a year to really come out and really show our community and each other that we're here to support, love and accept people for who they are, and what they want to believe in," Kincaid said.

Being a part of Pride is a special experience for Kincaid. He's been able to share the event with his husband and 13-year-old son, making it a personal experience that he can support through his business.

"We adopted our kiddo a couple years ago, and he got to walk in the Pride parade with us and seeing him hand stuff out to the crows and being cheered on ... seeing that in a kiddo just resonates with us as business owner," Kincaid said. "Knowing that we want to support organizations such as Pride, especially in this time and day."

For more information on the CNN report visit www.cnn.com

Stay with KESQ to hear the latest from organizers.