Conservative boycotts and legal threats are compelling major companies to step back from the Corporate Equality Index, an LGBTQ rating system created by the Human Rights Campaign, triggering outrage from activists who accuse them of “letting the bullies win.” Companies like Harley Davidson, Ford, and Lowe’s have faced growing pressure to reject the index, which had been adopted by over 500 companies by 2023.
The pushback, according to Dan Lennington of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, aims to prevent policies that advantage certain groups over others. He stresses the importance of avoiding discrimination, while activists like David Paisley argue that abandoning these policies empowers “bullies.”
While critics of the LGBTQ rating system view it as overreach, Eric Bloem of the Human Rights Campaign warns that abandoning these initiatives could expose companies to discrimination lawsuits. Despite these concerns, momentum against DEI policies continues to grow.
