US Companies Increasingly Gay Friendly

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Human Rights Campaign today released a report showing that an unprecedented number of US businesses earned the top rating for their treatment of gays and lesbians.

According to the sixth annual Corporate Equality Index, 195 major US businesses earned the top rating of 100 percent, up from 138 last year – a 41 percent increase. The Index rates employers on a scale from 0 to 100 percent on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors. The 195 businesses that met all of the criteria employ more than 8.3 million workers. When the Index was first released in 2002 only 13 companies, employing 690,000 workers, received the top rating.

"More businesses than ever before have recognized the value of a diverse and dedicated workforce," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "More importantly, these employers understand that discrimination against GLBT workers will ultimately hurt their ability to compete in the global marketplace."

The movement in corporate America toward equality in the workplace has prompted a coalition of corporations and civil rights groups to form the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness aimed at leveling the playing field by enacting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. ENDA – which is scheduled to be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives later this month – would ban workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

"In the next few weeks, Congress will vote on federal legislation that U.S. employers have already overwhelmingly embraced," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "It’s the right thing to do for our economy and for our country."

Today, at least 282 cities and towns, and 19 states, across the country have added workplace protections that protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation in both public and private sector jobs. More than 93 local jurisdictions, and 11 states, have laws that include protections based on gender identity.

The Corporate Equality Index, which this year rates 519 businesses, measures the extent to which employers protect their GLBT employees. Ratings are based on factors like non-discrimination policies, diversity training and benefits for domestic partners and transgender employees. Among the findings of this year’s report:

• The banking and financial services industry has 32 companies with 100 percent, more than any other industry. While there are 30 law firms with the top rating, up from 12 last year.

• Three sectors saw their first company achieve a top rating.
  - In mail and freight delivery, United Parcel Service (UPS) achieved 100 percent. In contrast, FedEx (FDX) received a 55 and does not provide benefits for domestic partners firm-wide, including to married same-sex couples in Massachusetts.
  - In the transportation and travel services industry, Travelport known for its travel sites such as Orbitz.com is the first to receive a perfect score.
  - Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. (HET) is the first gaming industry company to achieve 100 percent.

• For the first time, a majority of rated firms – 58 percent – provide employment protections on the basis of gender identity.

• Among the 57 companies that have newly achieved a perfect score of 100 percent are: Allstate Insurance Co.(ALL), Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS), Esurance Inc., J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (JCP), KeyCorp (KEY), Macy’s Inc. (M), Marriott International Inc. (MAR), Mastercard Inc. (MA), Waste Management Inc. (WMI) and Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO).

The report can be downloaded from HRC’s website at www.hrc.org/cei.