Google has dropped its drag show sponsorship during Pride Month amid backlash from some Christian employees.
The tech giant's surprising decision comes in the wake of a passionate petition launched by Christian employees who expressed their discomfort with the initiative.
Google Ditches Drag Show Pride Month Sponsorship
The Google logo is seen with the rainbow flag as a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and queer pride and LGBT social movements in New York City on June 7, 2022. - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is celebrated in the month of June.
As per CNBC, the tech giant has decided to pull the plug on its sponsorship of a highly-anticipated drag show during Pride Month.
The event was supposed to be the closing performance for the celebration of Pride month in time for the end of June. However, the search giant now distances itself from the drag show.
The move comes after some employees in the tech giant raised an internal petition, specifically urging Google to drop its drag show sponsorship, citing religious discrimination.
An internal description, which CNBC viewed, disclosed that the closing event in question is entitled "Pride and Drag Show," which puts the spotlight on "Peaches Christ." The performance is at the LGBTQ+ bar called Beaux in San Francisco.
Google confirmed to CNBC that it dropped its sponsorship for the drag event. And instead, the tech giant is kicking off a social gathering inside its offices to mark the end of the Pride Month festivities in celebration of diversity and inclusivity.
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Employee Petition Opposing Google's Drag Show Sponsorship
The Google logo is seen with the rainbow flag as a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and queer pride and LGBT social movements in New York City on June 7, 2022. - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is celebrated in the month of June.
Some Google employees opposed the sponsored Pride Month closing event.
A group of workers, including hundreds of employees, signed a petition to call out the upcoming drag performance. They argue that the event disrespects and sexualizes their Christian co-workers. Furthermore, they state that the show outright discriminates against their religion.
The petition says the drag performer's "provocative and inflammatory artistry is considered a direct affront to the religious beliefs and sensitivities of Christians."
The New York Post reports that some Google employees slammed the petition of their Christian co-workers. They say the complaint feeds into political culture wars, adding that the petition is subjective.
Meanwhile, other employees called out the search giant for quietly taking down the event from their internal websites. Some accuse the company of allowing petitioners to pressure them.
Google spokesperson Chris Pappas told Fox News that the drag event that features "Peaches Christ" failed to go through the "standard events process" of the tech giant.
Although the tech giant no longer sponsors the event, the performance still prevails at the said venue. It is open to the public. And as such, the firm's spokesperson says its employees are still free to attend.
Google traditionally sponsors numerous events every Pride month in San Francisco, which includes a grand Pride parade and several drag shows.
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