![Harley-Davidson]()
Are there even any DEI departments left anymore?
It seems like every week another company is announcing the closure of their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion departments, or scaling back their corporate activities and donations focused on social causes and deciding to spend more time on...you know, things that actually have to do with their business.
In recent months, companies like
Tractor Supply and
John Deere have both announced changes in their corporate policies after coming under fire for their sponsorships of things like pride parades and festivals and their participation in DEI efforts companywide.
The changes have largely come as a result of pressure campaigns by conservative activist Robby Starbuck - and his latest target was iconic motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson.
On his Twitter, Starbuck has criticized Jochen Zeitz, the German CEO of Harley who took the job in 2020 after formerly serving as CEO of footwear brand Puma, for his role in starting an organization called "The B Team" with billionaire Richard Branson. Among its goals, The B-Team seeks to phase out fossil fuels (which is weird for a motorcycle company) and "transform food systems" by reducing emissions. The group also lists as their priorities promoting "global cooperation and inclusive representation."
https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1818077663929807179
Zeitz even once referred to himself as the "sustainable Taliban" when it came to issues on the environment.
“So I became the Taliban again in a sustainable way. I decided to share, to create a sustainability committee, which I’m still chairing today.”
As far as his actions at Harley since taking over as CEO, Starbuck criticized Zeitz and the company for sponsoring events supporting Planning Parenthood, as well as hosting "LGBTQ+ boot camps" and donating to various LGBTQ+ causes, while forcing employees to attend trainings on how to become a better ally to the LGBTQ+ community.
https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1824514240532623702
The backlash has been making the rounds on social media, with many Harley owners expressing their outrage at the company for abandoning their values while also announcing that they will be moving some of their production to Thailand.
https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1825553810896601373
And apparently the criticism has gotten so loud that the company has been forced to respond.
In a statement issued today, the company announced a review of "all sponsorship and organizations" with which they're affiliated, while also requiring all sponsorships to be centrally approved. They also say that they will "focus exclusively on growing the sport of motorcycling and retaining our loyal riding community, in addition to the support we already provide to first responders, active military members and veterans."
Harley also says they have not had a "DEI function" since April 2024, and that they "no longer have supplier diversity spend goals," though they don't say when those diversity goals were ended.
The company also says that going forward, all training will be "related to the needs of the business and be absent of socially-motivated content."
https://twitter.com/harleydavidson/status/1825564138032234994
It seems like since the Bud Light backlash last year, companies have been quick to react to any threat of boycott or backlash from their customer base, no doubt fearing the massive financial losses that the beer brand has seen since partnering with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney.
Maybe Harley should just focus on making motorcycles? Is that too much to ask from a motorcycle company?
