FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — As Franklin Pride gears up for its annual celebration this summer, the organization has had to get ready without the support of two sponsors.
“They didn’t go into a lot of specifics, but if you follow the news and the public announcements, you can sort of tell that the rollback of involvement is really related to the DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] climate,” Franklin Pride board president Clayton Klutts told News 2.
📧 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts →
The two sponsors have joined a list of several U.S. organizations who’ve rescinded DEI initiatives.
“It’s frustrating because especially when it’s a long-term sponsor that’s really been there and vocally supportive, when they’re not, it feels like something’s been taken away,” Klutts added. “We haven’t changed anything, but the climate has changed.”
Klutts said he’s pleased to see members of the Franklin community come forward with donations to make up for the loss in funding. Additionally, he said he still expects thousands to attend the festivities this summer.
“Especially in light of the climate, we think it’s more important than ever to be here for our community,” Klutts said.
This isn’t the first time Franklin Pride has dealt with controversy. In 2023, several protestors encouraged the city to deny Franklin Pride’s event permit, but the celebration carried on at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm nonetheless.
