A growing number of major companies have been forced to stop implementing left-leaning LGBTQ ratings due to threats of boycotts and lawsuits from conservatives, infuriating activists who say they are letting bullies win.
This movement is Documented The Associated Press report cited recent examples of major companies such as Harley-Davidson, Ford Motor Company and Lowe's refusing to give ratings.
“I feel like I'm letting the bullies win.”
Companies are under pressure to implement the Corporate Equality Index, created by the Human Rights Campaign, to ensure that companies embrace left-wing policies that advance the LGBTQ agenda for their employees. In 2002, only 13 companies were able to achieve a perfect score on the scorecard, but by 2023, that number had soared to 545, despite tougher requirements.
Now the pendulum is starting to swing against the scorecards.
“We don't believe we should single out people as a group, and we don't believe we should right past wrongs by favoring one group and disadvantaging another,” said Dan Lennington, associate counsel for the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty's Equality Under Law Project.
David Paisley, senior research director at Community Marketing & Insights, likened the backlash to bullying.
“Almost every member of the LGBT community has experienced bullying at a young age, so the notion of being bullied hits us really hard,” Paisley said.
“I feel like I'm letting the bullies win,” he added.
Activists have previously lamented companies' reluctance to hire diversity, equity and inclusion officers, which have been an economic boon for left-wing activists.
Lennington says the backlash is a rejection of discrimination against people who are not members of the LGBTQ community.
“We have no problem with non-discrimination, but we are concerned that these policies could go too far and harm innocent third parties who object for religious reasons or are excluded because they are not LGBTQ or a particular race,” he explained.
Eric Bloom, vice president of the Human Rights Campaign, warned that abandoning the program would expose companies to discrimination lawsuits from LGBTQ people.
Whether or not that’s true, the backlash against DEI policies is gaining momentum.
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