The overwhelming majority of America’s leading businesses have already started addressing workplace fairness for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) employees. But we still need a federal standard that treats all employees the same.
The Business Coalition for the Equality Act is a group of leading U.S. employers that support the Equality Act, federal legislation that would provide the same basic protections to LGBTQ+ people as are provided to other protected groups under federal law.
Launched in March 2016, the 557 member companies of HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act have operations in all 50 states, headquarters spanning 34 states and a combined $7.8 trillion in revenue, and employ over 16 million people in the United States.
The Equality Act creates clear, consistent protections to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment ensuring that LGBTQ+ employees are hired, fired, and promoted based on their performance. In addition, the bill provides protections from discrimination for LGBTQ+ people in housing, credit, and jury service. The bill would also prohibit discrimination in public spaces and services, and federal funding on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group), Weston, FL
UL Inc., Northbrook, IL
STATEMENT BY AMERICAN AIRLINES – “We at American Airlines are proud of our long history of supporting LGBT equality. Now is the time for full equality for the LGBT community in the United States. Ensuring fairness in our workplaces and communities is both the right thing to do and simply good business.”
STATEMENT BY APPLE – “At Apple we believe in equal treatment for everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how they worship or who they love. We fully support the expansion of legal protections as a matter of basic human dignity.”
STATEMENT BY THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY – “Dow applauds the introduction of the Equality Act and continues to support a comprehensive federal framework that ensures fairness and opportunity for everyone. Full inclusion of our LGBT colleagues and citizens is quite simply the right thing to do – for business and for society.”
STATEMENT BY FACEBOOK – "We are open and vocal supporters of equality. Ensuring fairness in the workplace is a fundamental principle at Facebook and we support legal protections for LGBT Americans as outlined in the Equality Act.”
STATEMENT BY GENERAL MILLS – “At General Mills we have a long history of supporting LGBT equality and the time has come in this country for full, federal equality for the LGBT community. Ensuring fairness in our workplaces and communities is both the right thing to do and simply good business.”
STATEMENT BY GOOGLE – Diverse perspectives, ideas, and cultures lead to the creation of better products and services and ideas. And it’s the right thing to do. That's why we support protections for LGBT individuals as outlined in the Equality Act."
STATEMENT BY LEVI STRAUSS & CO. – “Levi Strauss & Co. is proud to support the Equality Act. We have a long history of supporting LGBT equality, and the time has come in this country for full, federal equality for the LGBT community. Ensuring fairness in our workplaces and communities is both the right thing to do and simply good business.”
STATEMENT BY NIKE – “At NIKE, we are committed to diversity and inclusion, and we strive to treat our employees equally. We believe that diversity drives innovation and allows us to attract and retain world class talent. We need fair and equitable laws that prevent discrimination, and NIKE supports the Equality Act introduced by Senator Merkley and his colleagues in Congress. This is another important step in the fight for equality.”
Image:
100% of every HRC merchandise purchase fuels the fight for equality.