(LifeSiteNews) – Eighty religious leaders representing multiple Christian denominations sent a letter demanding grocery chain Kroger drop its support for “radical LGBT policies and political causes” or face a boycott.
The letter, addressed to interim Kroger CEO Ronald Sargent and signed by 80 pastors of Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, and other congregations in the Ohio area, laments that “Instead of staying socially neutral on controversial political causes to satisfy the majority of your customer base, your company has left the marketplace of ideas and is aligned and closely associated with a shameful and diabolical LGBT policy promoting” left-wing stances on gender transitions, sexually-graphic material in school libraries, online censorship, “removal of child pedophilia laws,” and males in female sports.
As evidence, the coalition cites a Million Moms March petition noting that Kroger “continues to earn a perfect score on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index” from the LGBT pressure group Human Rights Campaign, a 2020 lawsuit alleging the company fired two workers for refusing to wear aprons with rainbow “pride” symbols, and that, “While the U.S. Department of Education celebrated ‘Title IX Month’ this past June to celebrate girls’ sports, and while the Ohio Legislature is considering the passage of HB 262 which would establish ‘Natural Family Month,’ between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, your Kroger’s Company participated in ‘Pride Month’ celebrations and promoted LGBT inclusion through various campaigns and initiatives.”
Kroger’s website maintains a “PRIDE: Fresh for Everyone” page that touts support for “LGBTQ+ Owned & Founded Businesses,” “proudly stand(ing) with our LGBTQ+ associates, customers and vendors in making our company brighter and better,” rainbow-themed products as “Pride essentials,” and “LGBTQ+ Brands,” all with the stated goal of “making it easier than ever to throw a party” specifically for LGBT pride.
“Here at Kroger, we’re proud to support diversity and inclusion in everything we do,” the page declares.
By contrast, the pastors’ letter reminds Sargent of Kroger founder Bernard “Barney” Kroger, who “would credit his Bible-believing mother with instilling in him a deep sense of self-discipline, enabling him to manage and expand his company.”
“With the closure of 60 under-performing Kroger’s stores nationwide over the next 18 months, we believe your company would benefit by not ‘upsetting the applecart,’” they implore. “For what it’s worth, please stay out of politics and do not alienate your customer base, otherwise your customers may just walk out the door and never come back.
In recent years, left-wing activists have used Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) and Environment, Societal, & Governance (ESG) standards to pressure major U.S. corporations to take favorable stands on political and cultural issues such as homosexuality, transgenderism, race relations, the environment, and abortion.
Political and customer backlashes to such activism has translated to business woes for companies such as Disney and Bud Light. President Donald Trump’s victory in November over Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House has also been seen by many as further evidence of the general public rejecting woke ideology, further signaling to corporations and activists alike the lack of popular receptiveness to such projects.
The backlash has gotten companies such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, McDonald’s, Jack Daniel’s, John Deere, Tractor Supply, Lowe’s, Toyota, Coors, and even Disney to back off from “woke” corporate policies.
