State Farm under fire for joining and leaving LGBTQ+ children’s book program

State Farm is facing criticism after it discontinued its partnership with an organization supporting LGBTQ+ literacy for children hours after receiving backlash for the initiative. News that the Bloomington, Illinois-based insurer was collaborating with GenderCool, a nonprofit that promotes inclusivity for youths, on a book program broke on Monday. Conservative groups quickly lobbied against the collaboration. Amid the backlash, which included a push on social media to reach out and complain to local State Farm agents, State Farm quickly ended the program. “This program that included books about gender identity was intended to promote inclusivity,” the insurer said in a statement posted to its website. “We support organizations that provide resources for parents to have conversations about gender and identity with their children at home. We do not support required curriculum in schools on this topic. As a result, we have made the decision we will no longer be affiliated with the organization.” State Farm also said that it will explore how it can support “organizations that align with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, including the LGBTQ+ community.” A State Farm spokeswoman did not respond to a request for more details about how State Farm is looking to support the LGBTQ+ community. Jen Grosshandler, co-founder and executive director of GenderCool, confirmed that State Farm had ended the partnership. "We appreciate the opportunity to have worked together," she said in a statement. "The outpouring of support from communities across the country we've received tells us the work GenderCool does has never been more important." She added that there are hundreds of thousands of transgender and non-binary young people "thriving" in this country. "Our mission is to simply help people meet these remarkable young people. We know when this happens, opinions evolve and that's a great thing." GenderCool's website lists several other corporate partners including Nike, Capital One, General Mills and Prudential. Many consumers who had applauded State Farm’s GenderCool partnership were dismayed by the insurer's about-face. Some people on social media pointed out the potential for hypocrisy next month for Pride, when brands often show public support for LGBTQ+ causes. After caving to this anti LGBTQ right wing campaign, I better not see @StateFarm brandishing rainbows for Pride next month.— WeirwoodTreeHugger (@weirwoodtreehug) May 24, 2022 I was so happy to be with @StateFarm when I heard about the program and so disappointed now that you’re backing down after a few conservatives threw a hissy fit. Maybe someone else se deserves my business since it seems you value conservatives over empathy and education— Same Casey⁷🐈⬛ (@cgarci21) May 24, 2022 @StateFarm I’ve been a policyholder of yours for 53 years. Your mewling cowardly retreat from your public support of all people regardless of race, creed, or sexual preference has made me reconsider. I am disgusted.— M. A. (@filmbuff2) May 24, 2022 State Farm faced controversy last year for its relationship with longtime spokesman Aaron Rodgers after the athlete spoke out against COVID-19 vaccines. Despite calls to sever its relationship with Rodgers, State Farm said he was a “great ambassador” and noted that it respected his “right to have his own personal point of view.”

State Farm under fire for joining and leaving LGBTQ+ children’s book program

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