John Deere to Cease Lending Name to Social Events Amid Culture Wars

John Deere, a well-known industrial and farming equipment manufacturer, made headlines on Wednesday as it announced its decision to no longer lend its name to social events like LGBTQ pride parades. This move comes as corporations across the country are reevaluating their stance on hot-button social issues in the midst of the culture wars heating up ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

In a statement posted on its X account, John Deere stated that it would “no longer participate in or support external social or cultural awareness parades, festivals, or events.” The company also clarified that diversity quotas and pronoun identification have never been and are not company policy.

Despite this shift, John Deere emphasized that it is not abandoning diversity efforts entirely. The company believes that a diverse workforce is essential to meeting customers’ needs and will continue to track and advance the diversity of its organization.

This announcement from John Deere follows a similar move by Tractor Supply last month, which eliminated its diversity, equity, and inclusion roles and goals. Both companies have faced criticism from online right-wing circles, with filmmaker Robby Starbuck leading the charge against them.

In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Starbuck highlighted the success of pressuring companies to reexamine their stances on social issues, using Tractor Supply as a model. Following John Deere’s announcement, Starbuck took to social media to declare that “Corporate America is afraid” and that every woke company is now questioning if they will be next.

While John Deere did not mention Starbuck or the online pressure campaign in its statement, the company stated that it is “always listening to feedback and looking for opportunities to improve.” A representative for John Deere did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As the debate over corporate involvement in social issues continues to intensify, John Deere’s decision to step back from supporting certain events reflects a broader trend of companies reassessing their positions in a politically charged environment.