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Walmart will roll back its diversity, equality and inclusion policies
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Walmart will roll back its diversity, equality and inclusion policies

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is rolling back its diversity, equality and inclusion policies.

This puts it in line with a number of major companies that have overhauled their operating practices after coming under significant pressure from conservatives.

No longer considering race and gender as a way to increase diversity when offering supplier contracts is an example of the retailer’s reported rollbacks, according to the Associated Press.

The company said it currently has no quota and has no plans to continue; however, it planned to stop collecting demographic data when determining funding criteria for grants.

In a statement to ABC News, Walmart said: “Our purpose of helping people save money and live better has been at our core since our founding 62 years ago and continues to guide us today. We can deliver on this because we are willing to change together with our employees and customers who represent all of America.”

“We have been on a journey and know we are not perfect,” the statement continued, “but every decision comes from the desire to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors of opportunity for all our employees, customers and suppliers and being a Walmart for everyone.”

Walmart will also “review subsidies for Pride events to ensure it does not provide financial support for sexualized content aimed at children,” the retail giant told AP.

PHOTO: Walmart stores ahead of earnings reports

A Walmart store in San Leandro, California, USA, on Monday, August 14, 2023. Walmart Inc. is expected to announce earnings results on August 17. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bloomberg via Getty Images

The changes also extend to Walmart’s extensive third-party marketplace.

For example, these third-party retailers would no longer be able to offer and sell “sexual and transgender products targeted at minors,” the company said. An example is coffin binders for young people who may use the products as part of their gender-affirming care.

The world’s largest retailer confirmed the changes on Monday.

They were first announced in a post on X by conservative political commentator Robby Starbuck.

He said he contacted the Arkansas-based company about a story he did about “wokeness,” which turned into “productive conversations” — and ultimately led to reversals in Walmart’s approach to DEI.

Other changes Starbuck mentioned in his announcement included discontinuing racial equity training through the Racial Equity Institute, no longer participating in the Human Rights Coalition’s Corporate Equity Index (a national benchmarking tool for LGBTQ individuals), and eliminating the use of Latinx (a gender-neutral word for anyone of Latin descent).

He also stated that Walmart will eliminate the use of the phrase “DEI” altogether.

“This is the biggest victory yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America,” wrote Starbuck, who also went after companies like Boeing, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply and Deere. & Co.