DEI

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University of Kentucky Disbands Diversity Office

Move comes after pressure from state lawmakers

(Newser) - The University of Kentucky will disband its office promoting diversity and inclusion efforts in response to questions from policymakers on whether its focus on identity has stifled political discussions, its president said Tuesday. The action comes after state lawmakers debated whether to limit DEI practices at public universities, reports the...

John Deere Name Won't Be on Pride Events Anymore

Under pressure, company says it will scale back DEI efforts

(Newser) - John Deere announced Wednesday that it's ending its involvement in events such as LGBTQ pride parades, while cutting back its own diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The farm equipment manufacturer has been under pressure by an online right-wing campaign started by filmmaker Robby Starbuck, who similarly led an effort...

Tractor Supply Dumps DEI Efforts After Right-Wing Campaign

Rural retailer nixes DEI roles and cancels Pride events, voter drives, carbon emissions goals

(Newser) - Just last month, Hal Lawton, president and CEO of Tractor Supply, boasted about the company's "very consistent" approach to DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) and environmental efforts, noting that, despite conservative backlash against similar initiatives elsewhere, "We haven't walked away from anything." Now, a "stunning...

'These Judges Bought What a Small Group of White Men' Sold

Appeals court rules Fearless Fund's grant program for Black women business owners is discriminatory

(Newser) - A US federal court of appeals panel suspended a venture capital firm's grant program for Black women business owners, ruling that a conservative group is likely to prevail in its lawsuit claiming that the program is discriminatory. The ruling against the Atlanta-based Fearless Fund is another victory for conservative...

Utah Lawmaker Turns Bridge Collapse Into DEI Debate

Gubernatorial candidate Phil Lyman criticizes port of Baltimore commissioner, who offers DEI consulting

(Newser) - A GOP lawmaker running for governor of Utah blamed the deadly collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. In an apparent effort "to boost his gubernatorial campaign," Utah Rep. Phil Lyman took to X on Tuesday to attack Port...

University of Florida Drops All DEI Positions

DeSantis applauds the move he'd worked toward

(Newser) - The University of Florida has shut down its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, an administrative memo revealed on Friday, in response to new state restrictions on the use of funding. The memo says the school closed the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, "eliminated DEI positions and administrative appointments,...

After Affirmative Action Ruling, DEI Opponents Shift Gears

Lawsuits invoke Civil Rights Act to fight workplace policies, funding for minority-owned businesses

(Newser) - Opponents of workplace diversity programs are increasingly banking on a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to challenge equity policies as well as funding to minority-owned businesses. Section 1981 of the act was originally meant to protect formerly enslaved people, or Black people specifically, from economic exclusion. But...

Judge: Don't Like 'Woke' Starbucks? Invest Elsewhere

Ruling dismisses case brought by conservative group who'd sued over chain's diversity initiatives

(Newser) - Starbucks has notched a win against a conservative group that tried to stymie its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The Messenger reports that on Friday, Chief US District Judge Stanley Bastian dismissed a case against the coffee giant brought last August by the nonprofit National Center for Public Policy Research,...

Chick-fil-A Under Fire, This Time From the Right

Critics learned the chain has an exec in charge of diversity, equity, and inclusion

(Newser) - Chick-fil-A, a company that has courted controversy in the past over its negative stance on LGBTQ rights , has suddenly been accused by critics on the right of "going woke," reports the Hill . Conservatives learned the company has a vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and are...

Disney Has Another Throwdown for DeSantis

Company to host major LGBTQ conference in September

(Newser) - Ron DeSantis' very public battle with Walt Disney World continues, now with another move by the latter to support LGBTQ rights. Disney World will be hosting a major summit from Sept. 11-14 to help boost lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in the workplace, with execs and team members from...

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