WASHINGTON, D.C. --Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of America’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, officially launched its second annual EquidadMX: Programa Global de Equidad Laboral, a survey evaluating LGBT-inclusive policies and practices in major Mexican companies. The leading global firm EY Mexico hosted HRC and more than 50 Mexican companies to kick off the new survey. 

“At EY Mexico we have a deep commitment to building a safe environment where our LGBT employees are and feel included, enabling them to bring their true full selves to work,” said Abril Rodríguez, Diversity and Inclusiveness Leader Latam North at EY Mexico. “We embrace the benefits of inclusion, both for the firm and for our employees, and recognize that even though we are making progress, we still have a lot of work ahead to create a culture where each and every EY LGBT employee feels they belong. As a service company, our people are our most valuable asset. That’s why we care about and are committed to building a better working world for them.”

HRC’s assessment of company policies and practices is based on three core pillars of LGBT inclusion:

• Adoption of nondiscrimination policies;
• Creation of employee resource groups or diversity and inclusion councils; and
• Engagement in public activities to support LGBT inclusion.

Following last year’s successful inaugural program in which 32 major employers in Mexico - including Pemex, the largest in the country -- earned the HRC Foundation’s designation of “Best Place to Work for the LGBT Community,” Equidad MX seeks to expand the network of inclusive employers throughout Mexico. Collectively, these firms employ over 550,000 workers in Mexico.

“Major Mexican employers are demonstrating that LGBT inclusion is a fundamental value and provides a competitive business edge,” said Deena Fidas, HRC Director of HRC Equidad MX and HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program. “Businesses around the world continue to invest in LGBT inclusion to support their employees and promote talent. Mexico is leading efforts to foster inclusive workplaces across the country and Latin America.”

“The cohort of companies joining HRC Equidad MX 2018, represent an unprecedented group of Latin American businesses committed to adopting an inclusive business model and demonstrating remarkable support for LGBT people,” said Francisco Robledo, HRC Equidad MX Implementing Partner. “They have started a national dialogue of inclusion and are now our newest LGBT ambassadors”.

“This year, we have two great reasons to celebrate. First, 32 companies earned the HRC Equidad MX certification last year and now we are witnessing interest from many additional companies ready to participate in the equality and inclusion survey,” said Fernando Velázquez, HRC Equidad MX Implementing Partner. “This demonstrates their commitment to LGBT inclusion in the workplace.”

Francisco Robledo and Fernando Velázquez are the renowned HRC Equidad MX partners working on the ground throughout Mexico to increase the number of LGBT-inclusive businesses and drive a national dialogue that recognizes the economic benefits that flow from  full workplace inclusion. 

Through the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the HRC Foundation has established guidelines to implement LGBT-inclusive policies, best practices and benefits across hundreds of international corporations. Through its Equidad programs in Mexico and, most recently, in Chile, HRC’s Workplace Equality Program is developing Spanish-language business equality toolkits for Latin American employers.

For more information on the HRC Equidad MX program, visit hrc.im/equidadMX or email equidadmx@hrc.org to learn more about participating in the HRC Foundation’s Equidad MX survey.

 The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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