HRC index shows increase in LGBT-friendly firms

Posted on September 7, 2008
Filed Under Gay News Blog

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation released its 2009 Corporate Equality Index this week, which rates 583 businesses on a scale of 0 to 100 on their treatment of LGBT employees, consumers, and investors.

Several companies in San Francisco, such as Gap Inc. and Wells Fargo and Co., were among the 259 businesses that got a perfect score of 100 in the new report, up one-third from 195 businesses with a perfect score in 2008.

Kristina Militante, chair of Gap GEAR (Gay Employees, Allies and Resources), which has 280 members, said she was “thrilled” with the score. The latest index, released Tuesday, September 2, marks the fourth year Gap, which has about 5,000 employees in the Bay Area, received a perfect score.

“This is a big deal for Gap and the LGBTQQ community,” Militante wrote in an e-mail. “Finding a workplace that supports diversity and LGBTQQ individuals is hard. Having scored 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index demonstrates Gap Inc.’s consistent support and commitment.”

Wells Fargo, which began offering coverage for surgical procedures for transgender employees on January 1, received a perfect score for the fifth year.

HRC index shows increase in LGBT-
friendly firms