WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) released the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s leading benchmarking survey and report measuring company policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality for more than two decades. A record 1,449 businesses were rated this year, including 72 first-time CEI participants. In total, 765 companies – a 28 percent increase from last year – earned a score of 100 and will be honored with HRC Foundation’s Equality 100 Award as Leaders in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion. 

“At its core, the work of the CEI is about making businesses stronger. Since the start of this work 22 years ago, we’ve seen drastic shifts in corporate America towards more equitable and inclusive working conditions, family formation and healthcare benefits, and non-discrimination protections,” said HRC President Kelley Robinson. “At times, progress meets backlash, but companies continue to dedicate the time and resources to reinforcing workplace inclusion. As a result, they are more competitive and more creative while attracting and retaining top talent and widening their consumer base. Our door is open for companies looking to learn more about supporting every single employee so they can bring their best to work.” 

Key findings in the 2025 CEI include: 

• The first year of the CEI (2002) included 319 participating companies. This year, we surveyed a record-high 1,449 participants, nearly 5% growth from the previous year.
• 98% (1,420 companies) have sexual orientation and gender identity in their Employment Non-Discrimination policy, up from just 5 percent in the CEI’s inaugural edition in 2002. 
• More companies this year provided an LGBTQ+ health benefits guide – a 25% increase over last year in the number of companies with this employee resource. 
  • CEI 2025: 1089 (75%) companies created this resource. 
  • CEI 2023-24: 873 (63%) companies provided this resource. 
• Inclusive Benefits
  • 1,187 companies (82%) provide equivalency spousal and partner medical benefits.
  • 1,329 companies (92%) provide equivalency in their family formation benefits for spouses and partners. 
  • 1,258 companies (87%) provide equal health coverage for transgender individuals without exclusion for medically necessary care. 

• 1,051 companies out of all CEI-rated employers have instituted gender transition guidelines with supportive policies and documentation guidance to proactively support transitioning employees, their managers, and their colleagues – up 21 percent over last year’s CEI.

   

“The CEI is so much more than a score on paper. For decades businesses have relied on the CEI as a tool for transparency and leveling the playing field for all workers, making sure LGBTQ+ people and their families can share in fair, respectful and supportive workplaces and benefits,” said RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, SHRM-CP, HRC Senior Director of Workplace Equality. “As conversations evolve on corporate America’s approach to diversity, equity and inclusion, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that largely recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion. Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking. The work of the CEI is to help businesses to expand their consumer base and attract top, innovative talent by supporting the LGBTQ+ community.” 

For some LGBTQ+ people, especially those in states that have restricted access to gender affirming care for example, the workplace could be one of the only places where they feel respected as their authentic selves. Job seekers, as well as consumers, are looking for companies that are rooted in their values and strong enough to openly prioritize the long-term success of their business and employees. According to August 2024 data from HRCF’s LGBTQ+ Climate Survey: 

• 93.5% of LGBTQ+ workers believe a company scoring a 100 on the CEI communicates support for the LGBTQ+ community. 
• For employees at companies walking back their commitments to inclusion, nearly 20% of LGBTQ+ employees said that they would quit working for that company or start looking for a new job and one-third of LGBTQ+ employees said their productivity would suffer. 
• 80% of LGBTQ+ consumers are not only opting to boycott companies that are rolling back inclusion initiatives, but more than half will urge others to do so also, taking their concerns to social media or sharing negative company reviews.

Additionally, Edelman data from 2024 show 60 percent of people say an inclusive work culture with a well-supported diversity program is critical to attracting and retaining them as an employee – up 9 points from 2022. McKinsey has reported that companies in the top quartile for gender and ethnic diversity significantly outperform their competitors. 

Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine’s 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine’s top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses. This information is made available to the public through a convenient employer search tool, in addition to the full report. Find out more about the CEI criteria here. The full 2025 Corporate Equality Index is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.