ST. LOUIS – Rehab Bar and Grill, a longtime St. Louis Pridefest partner, is just one of the local establishments pushing back against Anheuser-Busch’s decision to pull sponsorship from the city’s Pride festival this year. 

The bar has decided to stop carrying AB products altogether. In a statement released by Pride STL, they say this decision from Rehab comes from a place of solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.

Moxie is a drag queen and the Show Director for Rehab, which hosts multiple drag shows each week. 

“Just because there’s so much politically going on, we also, as a queer bar here in St. Louis, want to make sure we’re representing ourselves and honoring the fact that we support Pride St. Louis and unfortunately if they can’t support us, then we can’t support them and that’s just how it works,” Moxie said.

Other businesses are following Rehab Bar and Grill, like Greenfinch Theatre and Dive, who posted on social media that they’ve already purchased the  products to sell. They’re donating 25% of the products’ sales to support the Metro Trans Umbrella Group.

Lynn Stewart was at Rehab’s Wednesday night show. Being a community ally, Stewart shared with FOX 2 about the sponsorship loss.

 “Actually, I think it’ll be a good thing for the PrideFest because all of these folks who are coming in now. A lot of the bars here in the Grove have said, we’re not going to carry it.”

Pride St. Louis did not ask for this boycott but says they are both honored and humbled by the unwavering support of the community. 

PrideFest claims that for decades, Anheuser-Busch has profited with its association with LGBTQIA+ events, not only financially but also socially. They feel that now in particular, corporate allyship is at its most critical.

“We are their hometown pride; we are literally five blocks down the street,” said Marty Zuniga, Pride STL president. This festival is five blocks down the street from their world headquarters. I can understand business choices, marketing budgets, and situations like that occur, and you have to manage appropriately. But as your hometown pride, this shows no hometown values.”

There are a handful of ways in which you can support this year’s pride fest—the organization is celebrating its 45th year in the city. 

If you donate $45, you will receive a special pin. For more information, visit here.