Few things in today’s world seem to provoke more skepticism than the typical corporate approach to June’s “pride” month festivities.
Whether it involves sports franchises or YouTube channels aimed at kids, every major entity appears eager to be associated with “pride” and its bright, rainbow-themed displays.
Large businesses certainly aren’t excluded from this trend (even outside of June), and that includes retail giant Walmart.
Although Walmart’s yearly launch of LGBT-focused products had previously triggered mild irritation, this time, the backlash seems far more intense.
This year, it’s not just those outside the LGBT community expressing their disapproval of what they view as obviously superficial efforts.
In fact, even LGBT shoppers themselves seem to be reacting with exasperation at Walmart’s displays.
According to the Washington Examiner, a viral TikTok video from a relatively unknown LGBT creator garnered widespread attention after she reviewed some of Walmart’s controversial pride merchandise—humorously suggesting it made her doubt her own identity.
This video, racking up more than five million views along with thousands of comments, showed the TikToker browsing Walmart aisles and highlighting some questionable apparel.
The same clip also found viral traction on X (formerly Twitter), where it’s amassed millions more views through reposts by other users.
Collin Rugg, co-owner of Trending Politics, shared the footage on X, where his post alone has drawn over 5.5 million views and generated a flood of responses.
The viral TikTok and Rugg’s repost can be watched below:
The TikToker stated, “Not even going to lie to y’all, Walmart really making me not even want to be gay no more,” then showed a shirt emblazoned with “Homo Estas” (intentionally), a pun on the Spanish greeting “como estas” (how are you?), with “homo” written in rainbow lettering.
Several additional shirts featuring other puns with LGBT themes were also presented in the video.
At the clip’s conclusion, the TikToker remarked, “We could just go ahead and skip ‘pride’ month, because …” before exiting with an uneasy look.
The replies on both Rugg’s X post and the original TikTok were filled with ridicule, with users taking aim at Walmart’s product design team.
While it’s only one viral video, it remains difficult to draw broad conclusions from this single incident.
However, the election of President Donald Trump was said to have brought widespread relief in the United States.
Many felt released from what they saw as pressure from radical left ideologies, which they believe includes aspects of the LGBT movement, and felt less compelled to handle such subjects delicately.
Good.
According to this point of view, staying silent out of fear of backlash from outspoken minorities never made sense, and it’s overdue for what is seen as rational thinking to return to society, as noted elsewhere.
The belief persists that compelled support for LGBT causes is loosening its grip on the nation, as demonstrated by the noticeable drop in backing and donations for such causes outside of liberal strongholds like New York City or Los Angeles.
Despite this, major companies appear unable—or unwilling—to recognize this shift, which is resulting in negative consequences for them.
This type of themed merchandise is expected to alienate those opposed to LGBT agendas.
Now, the same products seem to be repelling the very people they were meant to attract.
For critics, this illustrates perfectly the current decline of progressive influence in the Trump era.
