'Gold rush is over' Corporate backlash against diversity hits LGBTQ+ media

Publications aimed at LGBTQ+ and other diverse audiences are facing "good old-fashioned discrimination" as advertisers avoid them after attacks on diversity and inclusion campaigns, editors have said.

- Michael Savage

Senior figures at publications aimed at the gay community and other minority groups said a previous "gold rush" to work with such titles was over.

There has been a backlash in the US over corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the past 18 months, which has led to some big names rolling back their plans. Tag Warner, the chief executive of Gay Times, said his publication, which had been growing digitally in the US, had lost 80% of its advertisers in the past year. It has also lost more than £5m in expected advertising revenue.

Warner, who has led the outlet since 2019, said growth had been accompanied by an enthusiasm from brands to embrace LGBTQ+ audiences. He blames an anti-DEI drive in the US for the shift.

"I know that media and marketing is also going through a challenging year anyway, but when we're thinking about other organisations that don't talk to diverse themes, they're not nearly as impacted as we are," he said. "This is just good old-fashioned discrimination. Because discrimination doesn't have to make business sense. Discrimination doesn't have to be logical. Discrimination is discrimination."

"We're really experiencing the impact of what happens when voices that are pressuring organisations to give in to less inclusive perspectives start winning. Then it creates this massive behavioural shift in brands and organisations."