COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A group of 80 Ohio faith leaders is urging Kroger to retreat from what they call “the culture war promoting radical LGBT policies,” as businesses nationwide roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
In an Aug. 6 letter to Kroger CEO Ronald Sargent, the faith leaders accuse Kroger of aligning with “shameful and diabolical LGBT policy,” like promoting gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The letter argues Kroger is erroneously prioritizing Pride Month celebrations instead of supporting conservative culture efforts, like a bill at the Ohio Statehouse to designate a month celebrating “natural families.”
“As you may not be aware, these radical ‘woke’ positions are divisive and contrary to orthodox biblical teaching,” the letter, signed by three rabbis and dozens of Christian pastors, said. “A cultural shift is taking place in our country and your company, which is headquartered in Ohio, is ‘late to the dinner table.’ As the saying goes: When you go woke, you go broke.”
Kroger didn’t respond to NBC4’s request for comment. Based in Cincinnati, the supermarket chain is the largest in the U.S., operating about 2,750 stores across 35 states and employing more than 400,000.
The letter comes as numerous major companies have withdrawn DEI programs following the 2024 U.S. election and shifting political landscape, including Amazon, Meta, McDonald’s, Walmart, Ford, Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, Brown-Forman, John Deere, Tractor Supply and more.
While many of those corporations also deserted their financial backing of Pride events in June, Kroger again sponsored the Cincinnati Pride Festival. The chain received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2025 Corporate Equality Index, examining the inclusivity of workplace practices for LGBTQ+ employees. The index cited Kroger’s non-discrimination policies, healthcare coverage for trans employees, and LGBTQ+ internal training elements.
The equality index argues that LGBTQ-inclusive policies like Kroger’s “drives productivity, fosters retention and attracts top talent,” and that “philanthropic initiatives that support LGBTQ+ organizations help raise awareness and visibility of issues that the LGBTQ+ community faces uniquely.” Further, 75% of LGBTQ+ adults and 51% of non-LGBTQ+ adults report feeling more positively about brands that support LGBTQ+ equality year-round, an HRC survey found.
In the letter, the Ohio faith leaders said Kroger should follow in the footsteps of Target, which scaled back its Pride Month products in 2024 and has ended some of its DEI programs while no longer participating in HRC’s Corporate Equality Index. However, Target CEO Brian Cornell announced on Wednesday he is stepping down amid weak sales and an ongoing customer boycott over its scaled-back inclusion initiatives.
Still, the faith leaders warn Sargent could face a similar fate for opposite reasons, citing Kroger’s recent announcement that it will close 60 U.S. stores over the next 18 months to “improve profitability.”
“Please consider directing your company to not pick sides and to exit the culture war,” the letter said. “As 80 lead clergy, we are looking after our congregants which happen to be your potential customer base. We are also hopeful Kroger’s as an employer can prosper; However, with the current radical ‘woke’ policies in place, Kroger will not succeed.”
Read the full letter below.
