HRC Statement on Harley-Davidson's Retreat from Values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

by HRC Staff •

This week, Harley-Davidson - one of the world’s oldest and most visible motorcycle manufacturers - caved to pressure from right-wing MAGA extremists, putting politics ahead of workers and motorcyclists by retreating from the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In response, we are issuing the following statement:

Decisions to cut Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives send a clear signal to employees that their employers simply don’t care about equality in the workplace. Putting politics ahead of workers and consumers only hurts the same folks that these businesses rely on. Harley-Davidson’s choice to back away from the Corporate Equality Index is an impulsive decision fueled by fringe right-wing actors and MAGA extremists who believe they can bully their way into dismantling initiatives that help everyone thrive in the workplace. With nearly 30% of Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ+ and the community wielding $1.4 trillion in spending power, retreating from these principles undermines both consumer trust and employee success.

Eric Bloem, Vice President of Programs & Corporate Advocacy

Research shows that if a brand publicly supports and demonstrates a commitment to expanding and protecting LGBTQ+ rights, Americans of ALL ages are 2x more likely to buy or use the brand. Over half (53%) of Americans want and expect CEOs to “inform and shape conversations and policy debates about LGBTQ+ rights.” 71% of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. are more likely to buy products from companies that purposefully reach out to the LGBTQ+ community.

HRC’s Corporate Equality Index showcases how hungry businesses are to increase their support for the LGBTQ+ community. In its first year there were only 319 participating businesses; this year’s CEI engaged over 1,300 businesses, indicating an increase in the successful implementation of inclusion best practices across U.S. businesses. For more than 20 years, HRC’s Workplace Equality program has been at the forefront of meeting businesses where they are at and helping them expand benefits and opportunities for LGBTQ+ employees.

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