A group of gay bars in Chicago is boycotting Anheuser-Busch over pulling back from transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney after a partnership that drew controversy.
The five bars in the Chicago area believe the response by the beermaker shows problems with their support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Chicago gay bars boycott Anheuser-Busch as brewer shuns Dylan Mulvaney https://t.co/XpOecmEjUW via @nypost
— Burt Bean (@hacksawdog2) May 8, 2023
"For 41 years Sidetrack has encouraged liquor and beer companies that have wished to garner the LGBTQ+ customer base to actively support our community," a statement from Sidestack Bar said.
"Bud Light's recent decision to drop the Dylan Mulvaney campaign, to put on 'leave' those who created it, as well as the statement by its CEO, wrongfully validates the position that it is acceptable to acquiesce to the demands of those who do not support the Trans community and wish to erase LGBTQ+ visibility," it added.
Bud Light now taking fire from BOTH sides for Dylan Mulvaney fiasco as Chicago gay bars nix sales https://t.co/QfBtlDRGjK via @americanwire_
— Clifton Powell (@Rescuer24Powell) May 7, 2023
"We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer," Brendan Whitworth said, who serves as the CEO of four bars in Chicago.
The statement added that Witworth's bars were "discontinuing all Anheuser-Busch InBev products, including Busch Light, Bud Light and Goose Island 312."
The backlash comes after Bud Light sponsored a beer with Mulvaney's picture on it as part of the activist's campaign of celebrating womanhood. Mulvaney is a biological male who identifies as a female.
Many conservatives spoke out against the move, with some bars choosing not to offer Bud Light and customers saying they would boycott the company.
The company soon started to work to recover from the controversy, placing the ad director involved on administrative leave, a move some Chicago bars are now also opposing.
Bud Light can't seem to find a win following the action that sought to make the beer more popular among LGBTQ+ beer drinkers.
