The number of companies committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion is growingHRC's 2025 Corporate Equality Index reported an overall positive trend despite some major companies rolling back their DEI policies
Link to Full ArticleLGBTQ Nation - John Russell
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
As a growing number of U.S. companies roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the wake of right-wing pressure, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation says that, in fact, more companies are committed to improving LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality in the workplace.
On Tuesday, January 7, the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released its 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The annual report, which debuted in 2002, measures U.S. companies' policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality and has been a leading force in improving LGBTQ+ employees' workplace experience.
[T]his year's CEI came a day after McDonald's announced it would pause its participation in "external surveys" as part of its own rollback of DEI programs. The fast food giant joins companies like Walmart, Ford, Harley-Davidson, John Deere, and Lowe's that have all bowed to conservative pressure to end DEI initiatives.
At the same time, however, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation reports that the 1,449 companies rated in this year's CEI represent a 5 percent increase from last year's total. Of those 1,449 businesses, 72 participated in the survey for the first time. Additionally, 765 companies earned a perfect score, a 28 percent increase from 2024.---------------------------
