News Summary
Harrah’s Resort Southern California has withdrawn its sponsorship of the San Diego Pride Festival, a significant shift for the event as it faces growing community criticism regarding its leadership. This decision follows the withdrawal of other sponsors amid backlash over headliner Kehlani’s past comments. Despite losing key sponsors, ticket sales remain strong, reflecting ongoing community support for the festival, which aims to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture while addressing important issues. San Diego Pride is moving forward with plans for the festival and an internal review to improve engagement.
San Diego: Harrah’s Resort Withdraws Sponsorship Amid Controversy Surrounding San Diego Pride Festival
Harrah’s Resort Southern California has officially withdrawn its sponsorship of the upcoming San Diego Pride Festival, which is set to occur on July 19-20 in Hillcrest. This decision marks a significant shift for the festival, as Harrah’s has historically been a major financial contributor, donating tens of thousands of dollars to the San Diego Pride Parade.
The pullout comes in response to growing demands from former board members of San Diego Pride for a reevaluation of the organization’s leadership. Concerns have been raised regarding the current leadership team’s connection to the community, with critics indicating they support what has been described as “hate speech.”
The controversy is further fueled by the festival’s headlining artist, Kehlani, whose prior comments regarding Israel have drawn disapproval from various community members and leaders. This backlash contributed to UC San Diego Health’s withdrawal of its sponsorship two weeks before Harrah’s made its announcement. Elected officials and members of the Jewish community have also declared they will not participate in the festival, citing similar concerns regarding Kehlani’s involvement.
Sponsorship Withdrawals Add to Tensions
Additionally, the military contingent, traditionally leading the Pride parade, has opted out of participation due to safety concerns communicated by Clay Kilpatrick, the former chair of the Pride Military Department. In light of these events, San Diego Pride expressed its surprise and dismay regarding the ongoing withdrawals, labeling the criticisms as part of a “coordinated attack” aimed at undermining its leadership.
Despite the turmoil surrounding sponsorship withdrawals, San Diego Pride reported a notable increase in ticket sales for the festival and strong community support, indicating that enthusiasm for the event remains robust. The organization is currently developing an internal review, or audit, to assess past issues and implement improvements. They have engaged external personnel to help address some of the community’s concerns.
Calls for Better Engagement and Direction
The recent upheaval within the organization has left many community members yearning for enhanced engagement and clearer direction. Several elected officials, including City Council members and state legislators, have opted not to attend the festival, contributing to the existing controversy surrounding Kehlani.
Amid the challenges faced, San Diego Pride’s interim executive director, Kristin Flickinger, is scheduled to conduct an on-camera interview later this week, hinting at the organization’s commitment to transparency in addressing the ongoing issues.
Despite losing notable sponsors, San Diego Pride reports having over 100 sponsors still actively involved for this year’s festival, which aims to continue as planned. Featuring headliners Kehlani and Kim Petras, the festival seeks to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture while advocating for pertinent community issues.
Community Discontent and the Way Forward
Community frustration has surfaced, primarily directed at the lack of transparency and engagement from the board of San Diego Pride regarding the critical matters at hand. In light of their withdrawal, the Pride Military Department stated that their decision aligns with community safety concerns and their perception of inadequate support from the festival’s organizing team.
In response to the growing discontent, San Diego Pride has urged all members of the community to provide constructive feedback through appropriate channels rather than resorting to public outcry, indicating a desire for open and productive dialogue moving forward.
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Additional Resources
- San Diego Union Tribune: Weeks After Kehlani Controversy
- CBS 8: Military Contingent Withdraws from San Diego Pride Parade
- CBS 8: Harrah’s Resort Withdraws from San Diego Pride Festival Sponsorship
- GlobeNewswire: San Diego Faces Budget Deficit
- Wikipedia: San Diego Pride
