Sure, Corporate Pride was far from perfect, but I’d take the rainbow lanyards over silence, writes Geraldine Gallacher

This Pride Month feels quieter than usual. There are fewer Linkedin posts, fewer flags and fewer leaders willing to put their names behind the cause.

Numbers back the feeling. According to the UK Pride Organisers Network, three quarters of Pride events have reported a decline in sponsorship. One in four say revenue has fallen by 50 per cent since last year, the steepest drop on record. Some smaller Pride marches have even been cancelled.

This squares with what I have heard first-hand in my network since the beginning of the year. From law to financial services, US-headquartered firms especially have pushed back on initiatives favouring a specific demographic. While this has not spread to all businesses, there is certainly a greater reticence to outwardly support high-visibility initiatives such as Pride, even where there is a commitment to keep internal programmes running.

For those who remember when being openly gay could derail a........

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