A national rights group reported progress in U.S. companies’ support for LGBTQ+ employees despite conservative activists’ efforts to undermine their benefits. The Human Rights Campaign’s 2025 Corporate Equality Index, released last week, showed that more than 72 new employers participated and 765 out of 1,449 companies received a perfect score.
Conservative activists have targeted high-profile brands like McDonald’s for withdrawing from the annual report card, which assesses policies affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees. However, despite this backlash, many companies continue to prioritize LGBTQ+ inclusion.
The index evaluates companies based on workplace metrics such as anti-discrimination policies, health benefits for same-sex spouses, and gender transition guidelines. More than 1,000 companies reported adopting these guidelines, a 21% increase from last year.
Experts say that while some companies are changing their programs due to legal risk mitigation or reduced scrutiny, the vast majority remain committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
“At times, progress meets backlash,” said HRC President Kelley Robinson. “But companies continue to dedicate time and resources to reinforcing workplace inclusion, making them more competitive and creative in attracting top talent.”
The Corporate Equality Index debuted in 2002 and has helped improve workplace benefits for LGBTQ+ people over the years. The latest report shows that the efforts are paying off, with many companies receiving perfect scores despite the conservative pushback.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/human-rights-campaign-corporate-equality-index-lgbtq-workplace-a6b64d21287ed6de98d7dd3bc03f2872