Rainbow Ghosting: public support for diversity fades, hate speech rises 38%, and AI reflects these biases back to LGBTIQ+ profiles

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 2023, the public ecosystem supporting diversity was far more visible: twice as many news stories on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) were published as in 2025, and up to six times more than today. Media coverage has fallen by 2.5% quarter over quarter since 2021, a contraction that has accelerated to nearly 10% quarter over quarter over the past three years. 2023 also marked the high point of corporate commitment: today, the companies and brands that maintain active inclusion policies represent one-third fewer than they did then. Messages on X have been cut in half. Yet digital hate speech against the LGBTIQ+ community has surged by 38%. These are among the findings of “Pride Left on Read”, a report presented by LLYC in connection with the international commemoration of June 28.