All articles tagged with #corporate equality index
A Daily Signal article claims the Human Rights Campaign has shed about 65% of its Fortune 500 partners, dropping from 377 disclosed in 2025 to 131 this year, as conservative activism and backlash against transgender policies push companies away from HRC; it notes the remaining partners still employ millions and urges continued pressure from allied groups.
The Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index shows a 65% drop in Fortune 500 participation, from 377 companies in 2025 to 131 in 2026. Of 1,450 participating firms, 534 earned a top score of 100, representing nearly 6 million U.S. employees. The decline mirrors a broader anti-DEI movement, with major names like Walmart, Ford, and Lowe’s exiting, citing political climate and contracting considerations.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation awarded 545 companies a perfect score on its annual Corporate Equality Index, which evaluates U.S. based companies on their policies for LGBTQ+ equality. Over 800 companies scored at least 90 out of 100 points. The index, which began in 2002 with only 13 companies earning the highest score, now reflects a growing commitment to diversity and inclusion. Companies such as 3M, Coca-Cola, JPMorgan Chase, and Salesforce were among those with top scores. The index expanded its focus this year to include LGBTQ+ family formation rights and transgender-inclusive healthcare. Despite challenges and protests, companies recognize that supporting LGBTQ+ equality is not only the right thing to do but also beneficial for their bottom line.
The Human Rights Campaign has suspended its equality and inclusion rating for Bud Light's parent company, Anheuser-Busch, over its poor handling of the backlash that followed from a partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The suspension means the company 'no longer has the right to use the 'Best Places to Work' distinction,' HRC's letter says. Before the suspension, Anheuser-Busch had a CEI score of 100, the group's top rating.
Conservative activist and commentator Rob Smith has criticized Bud Light's partnership with transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney, claiming that companies are being influenced by "far-left" leadership and directors to boost their equality index scores. Smith argues that corporations are "forced" to adopt "woke" culture depending on their equality scores, and that this may not be the type of representation women want. Bud Light and its parent company Anheuser-Busch celebrated Mulvaney's "365 Days of Girlhood," by sending Mulvaney custom-made cans featuring the influencer's face. However, the move has caused backlash for Anheuser Busch, with one Missouri bar owner reporting a 30% drop in sales of Anheuser-Busch bottled products over the past week, while draught beer plummeted 50%.