ONE OF the collectives tipped to host a stage at this year’s Reading Pride has resigned from the event amid calls to boycott the festival.
Iota Events, which was set to host a stage at Pride in August, has resigned its support amid concerns over one of the event’s sponsors.
Double Okay contacted Reading Pride back in June, citing the support of and investment in Israel by PepsiCo, which owns Doritos, one of this year’s sponsors.
PepsiCo also owns SodaStream, which the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) explained back in 2014 was based in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank and was complicit in the occupation of the area and associated breaches of international law.
More recently, following its acquisition of the brand, PepsiCo has worked with the Strauss Group, an Israeli food company which provides financial support to the Israeli Army.
The PSC also said in 2020 that the Strauss Group also sent material support to the Israel Defence Forces.
The Strauss Group’s own website explains that it has donated “millions” and “hundreds of thousands of products” to groups such as the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers.
It also explains that it more directly communicates with IDF divisions.
As such, The Strauss Group and Pepsico– and Doritos by extension– feature on a number of boycott lists as it is directly supporting and financing Israeli soldiers.
Double Okay cited these concerns in an email to Reading Pride, urging the committee to drop the sponsorship.
The collective said in a social media post: “It is deeply troubling to us as part of the Reading queer community to see Reading Pride accept sponsorship and support from companies investing in the genocide of Palestinian people.
“We are calling on our community to sign an open letter to Reading Pride urging them to take action.”
They sought the dropping of Doritos as a sponsor for Reading Pride and for a public call on behalf of Reading Pride for a ceasefire and the freeing of Palestine.
Reading Pride responded to Double Okay, explaining that Pride’s diversity, equity and inclusivity is “only possible by the generous support of those that raise money, sponsor, or donate directly to Reading Pride.”
Their statement further explained that Reading Pride had contacted PepsiCo regarding the matter.
They also provided PepsiCo’s response, which read: “PepsiCo UK is proud to be a long-term supporter of Reading Pride and we’re looking forward to being part of the festival again this year.
“With Reading being the home of our UK head office, the relationship with Reading Pride is an important part of the engagement with our local community.”
The response also explained: “PepsiCo UK is part of a global food and beverages company, present in 200 countries and regions including the Middle East–Neither PepsiCo nor any of our brands are affiliated with any government or military in the conflict.
“We care deeply about the safety and well-being of everyone in these communities and are horrified by the violence and suffering taking place.”
Reading Pride’s own statement explained that the organisation: “Remains committed to fighting hate and inequality until Love Unites us all.
“While our charitable objectives somewhat restrict activities that we can undertake directly, we do support your concerns regarding the Middle East.”
Double Okay posted to social media last week to explain its disappointment in the response, calling instead for performers to boycott the festival.
Separately, Iota Events, which was tipped to bring an array of performers to one of the festival’s stages this year, has also announced they have pulled out of the festival.
Iota announced the move on Instagram on Wednesday, July 17, which said: “My role on the Reading Pride committee was Pride Xtra, now Pride Wilde, stage coordinator.
“We had a fantastic year in 2023 platforming groups and artists who are making significant impacts in the local queer community.
“I wanted to continue this year to produce a stage dedicated to showcasing the best of the Reading queer community and artists who have supported Iota.”
Iota’s Big Jay explained in the post: “I resigned from the Reading Pride committee. I cannot in good conscience continue to support the festival following the response from the trustees.
“This response does not reflect my religious and philosophical beliefs; as a Hindu person of colour, seeing other people of colour and innocent children being unjustly murdered, people losing their loved ones, living in danger and fear being ignored by organisations and charities.”
It continued: “I have a duty to the LGBT+ community, and to my activism for the lives of those suffering from genocide.
“I do not support war.”
In a later post, Iota Events explained that there had been calls as early as May for Pride to show support for Palestine, when the Reading Queers 4 Palestine group was formed.
Double Okay has since launched an alternative event to be held on the same day.
More information about Iota Events is available via its Instagram page: instagram.com/iotaevents/
More details about Double Okay are available via: doubleokay.org
More information about Reading Pride is available via: readingpride.co.uk
