The number of companies earning top
marks for how they treat their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
employees has hit a record high, according to a new report released
Monday by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest LGBT
rights advocate.
HRC's 15th annual Corporate
Equality Index (CEI) ranks 517 major companies with a perfect score
of 100, a 25 percent increase from last year and the largest
single-year jump in the report's history.
“Even in the face of relentless
attempts to undermine equality, America’s leading companies and law
firms remain steadfast and committed to supporting and defending the
rights and dignity of LGBTQ people,” said
HRC President Chad Griffin in announcing the results. “The
unprecedented expansion of inclusive workplaces across the country
and around the globe not only reflects our progress, it helps drive
it. As we enter a new chapter in our fight for equality, support
from the business community will be more critical than ever to
protect our historic advancements over the last decade and to
continue to push equality forward for workers, customers, and
families around the world.”
Twelve of the top 20 Fortune-ranked
companies received perfect ratings, including Wal-Mart, Chevron,
Apple, General Motors, General Electric, Ford Motor Company, CVS,
McKesson, AT&T, Verizon, Fannie Mae and HP.
Edward Jones, Delta, Netflix, Hasbro,
Tyson and Crate & Barrel were among the companies to receive a
perfect score for the first time. Apple and Xerox are among the
companies that have consistently scored high marks since the survey's
introduction in 2002.