Major companies are abandoning the Corporate Equality Index, which evaluates businesses on LGBQT+ workplace policies. Initially established over 20 years ago by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the index aimed to combat discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees, but recent months have seen a wave of criticism, particularly from conservative activists. Companies like Ford, Harley-Davidson, and Lowe’s have opted out of the index, citing concerns over the implications of diversity and inclusion programs.
Conservative groups argue that these initiatives disadvantage individuals outside of the targeted groups, contending that merit should not be sacrificed for diversity quotas. They have gained traction following a Supreme Court decision that challenged race-based affirmative action, leading to broader critiques of DEI programs.
Despite these changes, the HRC maintains that its index has been instrumental in improving workplace benefits for LGBTQ+ individuals, promoting initiatives like comprehensive healthcare for transgender employees and inclusive family benefits. Critics of the current trend warn that abandoning such programs could harm workplace culture and alienate an increasingly significant LGBTQ+ consumer base.
As companies reassess their DEI strategies amid legal pressures, the long-term consequences of distancing themselves from LGBTQ+ inclusion initiatives could lead to loss of talent and customer loyalty. This may prove unlikely as lawsuits against companies’ diversity and inclusion efforts have particularly been on the rise since June of last year, when the Supreme Court ruled to end affirmative action in college admissions.