Kerby Anderson

“Target is the latest in a string of retail giants who have taken a stance against the wildly unpopular diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.” That is how Steve Forbes begins his commentary on DEI in the business world. He adds that the recent move comes in the wake of similar actions by Walmart, Amazon, Meta, and Tractor Supply Company.

As I mentioned in my commentary last week, the decision by large companies like Walmart to move away from DEI will certainly encourage other businesses to do the same. Target first announced its bathroom policy about gender identity back in 2016. It triggered a backlash and boycotts. But Tim Wildmon (American Family Association) announced on my radio program they were ending their Target boycott.

Not only are businesses changing their view about DEI, but Steve Forbes points to political leaders who are also expressing concerns about DEI. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently criticized companies that use DEI training because it’s “making people sit through a training that looks like something out of Portlandia.”

Longtime Democratic Party strategist James Carville has been critical of his party’s self-destructive language and attitudes. He criticized the party’s woke gender rules as “stunningly stupid” policies.

DEI policies are not only unpopular: they are unproductive. As I have cited in other commentaries, several business school studies illustrate the failings of DEI. Steve Forbes observes that numerous initiatives, “have unnecessarily raised the prices of energy, food, transportation, and housing.”

It appears that corporate America has discovered that DEI is a problem, and it is time to get back to work to please their customers.