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Corporate Equality Index 2026

Providing research‑based snapshot of LGBTQ+ experiences in U.S. workplaces and a national benchmark of corporate policies, practices, and benefits pertinent to LGBTQ+ employees.

The 2026 edition of the CEI was created to bring greater transparency to how companies are navigating a shifting workplace environment by capturing current conditions, elevating LGBTQ+ worker experiences and documenting the policies and practices that continue to shape inclusion across industries.

Equality At The Fortune-Ranked Companies

39.1%

U.S. Workers

New research shows 39.1% of U.S. Workers say their employers rolled back DEI practices.

54.2%

U.S. Workers

Over 50% of U.S. Workers report experiencing stigma or bias at work at employers that have scaled-back or ended DEI initiatives.

86%

U.S. Workers

More than eight in ten U.S. workers who described their workplace as hostile also reported being at risk of leaving their job.

8×

Higher

High scoring companies in the CEI have an 8× higher net income compared to their lower-scoring peers.

534

Equality 100 Award

In the 2025 CEI, 765 employers achieved a top score of 100 earning the coveted “Equality 100 Award.”

93.5%

LGBTQ+ Adults

Over 90% of LGBTQ+ adults state that a company scoring 100% on the HRC Foundation’s CEI indicates some level of support for the LGBTQ+ community.

	All Fortune 500	Fortune 500 Participants	Fortune 500 Non-Responders
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in U.S. Nondiscrimination Policy	93%	98%	77%
Spousal and Domestic Partner Benefits	55%	71%	0%
Transgender-Inclusive Benefits	73%	94%	0%
Transgender Workplace Best Practices	55%	71%	0%
Outreach and Engagement to the LGBTQ+ Community	60%	77%	0%
Corporate Social Responsibility	67%	86%	0%
Average 2023-2024 CEI Score	67	86	4

Inclusive Policies and Benefits

Supporting an Inclusive Workplace Culture

108 Fortune 500-ranked businesses achieved a verified score of 100 in the 2026 CEI and earned recognition as “Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion” awardees.

Equitable policies and benefits are critical to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workforce, but alone are not sufficient to support a truly inclusive culture within a workplace. Employers recognize that, beyond the letter of a policy, additional programming and educational efforts are necessary.

Engaging With The LGBTQ+ Community through Outreach and Engagement

CEI-rated businesses have extensive programs to engage with key markets and the communities in which they operate. Public commitment in the CEI is measured through a number of engagements with the LGBTQ+ community.

The CEI’s external partnerships and business practices criterion also ensures that sexual orientation and gender identity protections apply to businesses’ suppliers in their non-discrimination standards, as well as recipients of the businesses’ philanthropic funds.

98%

of CEI-rated employers explicitly include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as a part of their nondiscrimination policy.

77%

of CEI-rated employers documented that they provide inclusive benefits for same- and different-sex spouses and partners.

91%

of CEI-rated businesses (a record 1,321 of 1,450 respondents) offer at least one comprehensive healthcare plan option with current market standard coverage.

79%

of CEI-rated employers (1,143 of 1,450 respondents) offer a a robust set of practices to support organizational LGBTQ+ diversity competency.

97%

of CEI-rated employers (1,412 of 1,450 respondents) have an employee resource group or diversity council that includes LGBTQ+ and allied employees and programming.

1135

CEI-rated businesses have adopted gender transition guidelines to establish best practices in workplace inclusion for managers and teams.

The Human Rights Campaign reports on news, events and resources of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation that are of interest to the general public and further our common mission to support the LGBTQ+ community.

77%

of CEI-rated businesses (1121 of 1,450 respondents) demonstrate efforts of public commitment to the LGBTQ+ community through outreach or engagement initiatives.

83%

of CEI-rated businesses (1,210 of 1,450 respondents) have written giving guidelines that prohibit philanthropic support of non-religious organizations with an explicit policy of discrimination towards LGBTQ+ people.

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Corporate Equality Index 2026

Search Your Employer

Read the Full Report

Equality At The Fortune-Ranked Companies

Inclusive Policies and Benefits

Supporting an Inclusive Workplace Culture

Engaging With The LGBTQ+ Community through Outreach and Engagement

Related Resources

¿Qué Hacer? Un Manual Para Comprender La Salud Y El VIH

Healthy Sex Guide (La Guía de Sexo Más Seguro)

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Definitions

Love Conquers Hate

Fall Favorites

Cookies in use

Search Your Employer

Read the Full Report

Equality At The Fortune-Ranked Companies

Inclusive Policies and Benefits

Supporting an Inclusive Workplace Culture

Engaging With The LGBTQ+ Community through Outreach and Engagement

Related Resources

¿Qué Hacer? Un Manual Para Comprender La Salud Y El VIH

Healthy Sex Guide (La Guía de Sexo Más Seguro)

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Definitions

Love Conquers Hate

Fall Favorites