Bay to Breakers loses sponsor over race operator’s right-wing politics

Bay to Breakers sponsor Pendo has announced it is “breaking” from the race and will not continue as a sponsor. In a May 13th blog post on the company’s website, Joe Chernov explains the decision, citing “political donations that seem misaligned with the inclusive values associated with the race,” along with the race’s failure to award prizes to non-bianary runners.

KnowTheCEO first reported that the founder and chairman of Capstone Events, which runs Bay to Breakers, has contributed thousands of dollars to extremists politicians, including Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz, Senator Josh Hawley and former President Donald Trump. Capstone’s John Kane also helped establish a church that was founded on anti-LGBTQ principles. Our reporting on Kane’s contributions was subsequently picked up by the San Francisco Chronicle, SFist, KRON TV, and others.

Despite claiming that it is “dedicated to supporting and uplifting LGBTQIA+,” Bay to Breakers Title Sponsor Zappos has said nothing about the fact that it has partnered with a man who financially supports some of the nation’s most anti-LGBTQIA+ politicians.