HRC- Corporate America Stands with the LGBT Community

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FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 14, 2012
Paul Guequierre


The New Normal: Corporate America Stands withthe LGBT Community
 Recordnumbers of businesses earn top score in HRC’s 2013 Corporate Equality Index
WASHINGTON –On the heels of historic electoral victories for marriage equality last week,corporate America has shown once again it is on the right side of history whenit comes to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. Workplace discrimination protections are the new normal in the businessworld, while the federal government and many state governments lag behind inaddressing discrimination against LGBT workers.

Businesses are also coming outin record numbers in support of marriage equality.  This new reality isreflected in the fierce competition between companies to recruit and retain thebest employees and to influence consumer choices, and has resulted in theimproved lives of millions of LGBT Americans. That’s according to the HumanRights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nationalbenchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTemployees.

In the 2013CEI, released today, a record 252 businesses achieved the top rating of 100percent, earning the coveted distinction of “Best Places to Work for LGBTEquality.”  As a point of comparison, 13 businesses earned a 100 percentin the inaugural CEI 11 years ago, demonstrating that a new normal hasarrived.  The policies, benefits and practices businesses must implementto earn a perfect score are best-in-class demonstrations of corporate commitmentsto LGBT workers.

The toprated businesses span across industries, geographies, and size.  View thefull report at www.hrc.org/cei. 
“CorporateAmerica continues to raise the bar in workplace fairness,” said HRC PresidentChad Griffin.  “LGBT-inclusive workplace policies are not only the rightthing to do and good business practices, they are the new normal. Americans have spoken, and as we celebrate our victories at the ballot box, wehope Congress will follow corporate America’s lead and create a level playingfield – including passing fully-inclusive workplace non-discriminationlegislation.” 

This year’sreport at a glance:

• A record 74 major businesses and law firms publicly supported pro-equality legislation at the state and federal levels – including those that took an active role in the marriage campaigns this fall.
• The 2013 CEI saw the largest growth in the survey’s history with 54 new businesses participating.  The number of employers officially rated in the CEI has skyrocketed from 319 in 2002, to 688 this year, a jump of 116 percent.     
• This year’s CEI marks the first time a majority of Fortune 500 companies have nondiscrimination policies that cover gender identity (from 50 percent to 57 percent), while an astonishing 84 percent of overall CEI participants cover gender identity.  
• Transgender-inclusive healthcare coverage continues to rise. Now in its second year as a mandatory criterion for a company to earn 100 percent, 287 (42 percent) participating companies offer comprehensive healthcare coverage to their transgender workers, up from 19 percent last year.

While basicprotections for LGBT employees have become the norm, record numbers of Americanbusinesses have also updated their larger benefits packages, adding “softbenefits” for LGBT workers, including things like retirement benefits todomestic partners and relocation assistance.  With benefits accounting forroughly 20 percent of an employee’s compensation, companies recognize this as amatter of equal pay for equal work.

Over thepast 11 years, the CEI has become the gold standard for corporate policies andpractices related to LGBT employees and their families.  The CEI ratescompanies on 40 such policies and practices.  A total of 889 businesseshave been rated in the 2013 CEI, including the entire Fortune 500. This year arecord 293 of the Fortune 500-ranked businesses have an official CEI rating,with the other 201 rated based upon publicly-available data.

View thefull report at www.hrc.org/cei.

As the CEIhas proven over the last decade, such a project can propel equality forward bysparking competition and raising awareness about what inequalitiespersist.  On December 3, HRC will release the inaugural Municipal EqualityIndex, which rates 137 cities on how inclusive their laws, policies, and cityservices are. 

TheHuman Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working toachieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring andengaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizensand realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
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