WASHINGTON - This morning, a USA Today article by senior reporter Jessica Guynn explains that as bad actors from the fringe right are taking to social media in bad faith efforts to spread fear and politicize diversity and inclusion initiatives, employees and customers are expressing frustration and concern over shortsighted decisions some companies have made. Although these anti-DEI efforts are not new, they mirror the harmful bills penned by anti-LGBTQ+ politicians in legislatures across the country. But business leaders, employees, consumers, and shareholders largely understand the value in companies committing to and exercising core principles of diversity and inclusion – and they are speaking out against those who are flip-flopping on their values.

HRC Foundation’s vice president of programs and corporate advocacy Eric Bloem had this to say to USA Today:

“This is obviously something that is having a moment, so to speak,” Bloem said of Starbuck's campaigns against DEI. But, "this notion that we need a return to sanity or a return to neutrality is something that doesn’t resonate with people who are legitimately focused on business outcomes.”

USA Today also featured community voices who called out the far-right’s out-of-touch schemes to get attention online, like this Harley Davidson dealership in Vermont:

“A Harley-Davidson dealership in Vermont accused [Starbuck] of playing fast and loose with the facts and exploiting hot-button issues for personal gain. Starbuck stands by his campaign and denies this is a ‘get rich quick scheme.’

“‘His baseless accusations against Harley-Davidson are part of a broader pattern of sensationalism aimed at monetizing outrage,’ Wilkins Harley-Davidson wrote in a blog post on its website. ‘HD has been judged, criticized, and attacked for various things over its 120-year history. It is going to take a little more than some washed up podcaster to make a dent in this company.’”

And Chris Sadowski, a 65-year-old gay Harley Davidson rider from Wisconsin:

“[Sadowski’s] a live-and-let-live kind of guy − he says ‘Harley-Davidson is about freedom and riding’ − and it bothers him that Starbuck trades in stereotypes that stir division.

“‘It’s easier for you to feed your prejudices than it is to get to know people and see if there is any merit to it,’ Sadowski said. ‘And then you look for cheerleaders to support your views. It doesn’t make you right.’

“Starbuck's anti-DEI agenda also doesn’t make much business sense, according to Sadowski…”

And this Kansas rancher calling out Tractor Supply Company for their shortsightedness:

“Kansas rancher Brandi Buzzard Frobose said she was disappointed in Tractor Supply – TSC – which is a staple in the lives of American farmers.

“‘Whether TSC wants to acknowledge it or not, LGBTQ+ people and people of color (POC) do live and work in rural America. They are a valuable thread in the tapestry of American agriculture,’ Frobose wrote on her brand Facebook page. ‘This is an overreaction to loud voices who are upset that LGBTQ+ and POC exist in agriculture and deserve equity and equality in our communities and workplaces.’”

And this from retail manager Joe Montello:

“A retail manager with three decades of experience, Montello, 57, leapt at the chance to live in the Adirondacks where he vacationed. He planned to keep working at Tractor Supply until he retired. Then the Tennessee-based company backslid on its commitments to DEI and the LGBTQ+ community.

“So Montello texted his boss and turned in the store keys the same day. Now he’s working construction for $18 an hour while he figures out what to do next.

“Tractor Supply employees and customers have stopped him in the grocery store aisles and on hiking trails and reached out to him on Facebook to voice their support, Montello says. He misses the job he loved, but he says he does not regret his choice.

“‘I felt like it was time to stand up for what I believe in, that all people are created equal and should be treated with respect,’ he said.”

Business leaders and shareholders understand that strong commitment to inclusion is a business driver, which is why HRC has seena record numberof companies embracing LGTBQ+ inclusion as part of our Corporate Equality Index. With close to 30% of Gen Z adults identifying as LGBTQ+ and the community holding $1.4 trillion in spending power, decisions to abandon values of diversity and inclusion are detrimental to any company’s bottom line and the American economy writ-large. According to new data from Edelman, 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 nine points from 2022. According to ACCP, senior business leaders from 125 leading companies say their commitment to DEI is steadfast at 96%: 83% of respondents noting this commitment has remained consistent, and 13% reporting an increase compared to last year.

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.