The collapse of Pride was already visible in 2025. In 2026, the air going out of the rainbow bubble is so visible that it cannot be denied by anyone. The most visible thing about Pride month anymore is that it passes with less fanfare, and more controversy, than ever.
According to one recent report, Pride events that used to draw tens of thousands of people have been canceled in Tampa, Florida; Arlington, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; and Ashtabula, Ohio “due to hostile political climates, funding issues, volunteer shortages, and safety fears.”
Sponsors and past participants both increasingly see attendance at Pride events as “potentially dangerous”. One sponsor “was heartbroken to tell me that he couldn’t support. And not only could he not support by writing a check, but he also couldn’t have a presence there,” says Becke Powell, executive director of Ashtabula Pride, who blames “hatemongers”.
Corporate image managers in particular began to cut back on ‘woke’ sponsorships during 2025. They…
