Post submitted by Madeline Perrou, HRC Workplace Equality Program Assistant

HRC Foundation and more than 100 guests celebrated the 2018 Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality on May 11 in Las Vegas, honoring 600-plus businesses achieving a perfect score in the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The event was hosted by MGM Resorts International and held at the Aria Convention Center.

The highlight of the event was HRC Youth Ambassador MaKayla Humphrey’s special remarks about her journey as an openly lesbian high school athlete and how she found confidence and pride in her identity at such a young age. Humphrey compared her story to those of many in the room who have come out at work and faced struggles, and those who feel like they must stay in the closet on the job.

Mary Beth Maxwell, HRC Foundation senior vice president for programs, research and training, opened the program by reminding attendees of the importance of inclusive workplace policies and practices. Phyllis James, chief diversity and corporate responsibility officer at MGM Resorts, spoke about MGM’s legacy of building inclusive workplaces and ongoing commitment to providing superior hospitality for everyone.

HRC Workplace Equality Program’s Deena Fidas and Beck Bailey also delivered remarks.

Fidas spoke about HRC Foundation’s soon-to-be-released national climate research on members of the LGBTQ community and their experiences on the job.

The Las Vegas event was the second of two celebratory gatherings recognizing this year’s CEI Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality recipients.

HRC Foundation’s 2018 Corporate Equality Index is the premier national benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices pertinent to LGBTQ employees. In the 2018 CEI report, 609 major businesses — spanning nearly every industry and geographic area of the country — earned a top score of 100 and the distinction of Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality.

Congratulations to these leading businesses that achieved a perfect score on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index!