Princeton’s Pride Parade, which took place June 13, went on as scheduled, but with a significant reduction in corporate support.
It had between 60 percent and 75 percent of last year’s corporate backing. The drop mirrored a broader pattern affecting Pride celebrations across the state and country, including in Montclair, where a $100,000 loss of corporate funding forced organizers to postpone their festival from June 13 to Aug. 1, and then to Oct 11. In New York City Pride organizers reported losing roughly $500,000 in sponsorship this year.
Sara Wasserman, queer educator and local community organizer at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, which organizes Princeton’s Pride Parade, said the pullback was closely tied to the federal government’s posture toward LGBTQ+ communities and other marginalized groups.
“I think the federal government has made it clear that anybody who is providing any type of care or support for marginalized folk are targets,” Wasserman said, adding that for-profit companies are “scared about losing money” and “scared about their bottom line.”
Despite the funding losses, Wasserman said Princeton’s celebration, which started eight years ago proceeded at full scale and was supported by community donations, individual donors and foundations.
“We think it’s more important than ever to continue to come together and to celebrate together,” said Wasserman.
She remains hopeful corporate donors will return, calling hope “the most dangerous tool we have to fight against hate.” Wasserman also emphasized that the organization’s support extends beyond the one-day event, noting it operates as a Central New Jersey safe space seven days a week.
Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber, the center’s chief activist, said in a statement: “Every Pride is someone’s first Pride. Every Pride allows folx across the rainbow spectrum to see the potential and promise of how they can live their lives fully, who they can love openly and simply and beautifully, who they can BE, who they ARE! And that’s why it’s so important that we gathered together on this day not only to survive but to thrive.”
