In a move that has sent ripples through the St. Louis community, Anheuser-Busch has concluded a longstanding relationship with PrideFest, opting not to renew its sponsorship after more than three decades. The festival, a cornerstone event for the LGBTQIA+ population earmarked for June 28 and 29, now faces a significant funding gap, as reported by FOX2now. The decision has left Pride St. Louis scrambling to fill a $150,000 shortfall in comparison to the previous year's support.
The implications of Anheuser-Busch's withdrawal are to potentially impact more than just the budget - local establishments like Rehab Bar and Grill in The Grove have swiftly responded by announcing a boycott of the company's products. Chad Fox, owner of the bar, pointedly criticized the move, "the decision by Anheuser-Busch—a long-standing sponsor of St. Louis PrideFest—to end their sponsorship is yet another targeted attack on our LGBTQIA+ community," Fox articulated in a statement obtained by 5 On Your Side. This development comes in the wake of Pride organizers reporting their surprise at the decision, claiming they were "blindsided."
To combat the sudden loss of corporate sponsorship, Pride St. Louis has launched a fundraiser dubbed #45 for 45, honoring 45 years of advocacy within the community. As noted in First Alert 4's coverage, donations are being actively solicited to close the funding gap, with incentives such as commemorative pins for contributions exceeding $45, directly bolstering the organization's year-round mission.
Local solidarity has been further demonstrated by the Greenfinch Theater and Dive, who, faced with the dilemma of pre-purchased Anheuser-Busch stock they can't afford to just discard, have pledged to donate 25% of sales from these products to the Metro Trans Umbrella Group. Despite these rallying efforts, the immediate future of PrideFest hangs ambiguously, dependent now more than ever on community engagement and support to remain "safe, engaging and spectacular," according to a sentiment by Pride St. Louis President Marty Zuniga, as featured in the 5 On Your Side interview.
As for a response from the beer titan, silence prevails. Anheuser-Busch has yet to offer public commentary or rationale behind their decision, a detail still looming large over a community bracing itself to celebrate Pride without the corporate patron that once stood synonymously with festivities for 30 years running. Despite this setback, the spirit of Pride in St. Louis seems undeterred, with plans for the Grand Parade, a marquee event, still firmly slated for June 29.
