The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an LGBTQ+ activist group that advocates for pediatric sex change interventions, such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex change surgeries. They have conducted their “Corporate Equality Index” (CEI) survey since 2002, which measures a company’s commitment to LGBTQ+ activism and adherence to LGBTQ+ ideology.
According to the HRC, participating in this survey can bring positive publicity and attract top talent, which is why the majority of Fortune 500 companies have participated in it. However, receiving a low CEI score can make a company a target for media criticism.
In their latest update to the CEI criteria, the HRC has announced that, in order to achieve a top CEI score, corporations must offer insurance coverage for child sex change medications. This includes “puberty blockers for youth”, cross-sex hormones, and genital surgeries.
Companies must also provide short-term medical leave to transgender individuals. Additionally, they can earn 10 out of the required 100 points by offering insurance coverage for at least five other “essential services and treatments” for transgender individuals, such as hair removal, facial feminization surgeries, and voice modification therapy.
The HRC has a history of punishing companies who do not meet their criteria or publicly distancing themselves from the CEI index. For example, they have suspended or lowered the CEI score of companies they perceive as faltering in their support of the LGBTQ+ agenda. Conversely, they have publicly chastised companies who attempt to distance themselves from the index, such as Tractor Supply Company, who recently faced criticism for engaging in LGBTQ+ activism.
After receiving pushback, the company issued a statement stating they were ending their relationship with the HRC and would no longer participate in the CEI survey. In response, the HRC launched a petition against Tractor Supply Company, accusing them of “caving to right-wing extremists”.
The HRC’s CEI index is related to the trend of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, where companies are evaluated for investment based on how they align with certain left-wing ideas. In fact, the ESG reports of several Fortune 500 companies cite the CEI index. This puts pressure on companies to meet the HRC’s criteria if they want to remain appealing to ESG investors.
The Human Rights Campaign did not respond to requests for comment. If this trend continues, it could have significant implications for how corporations approach issues related to gender identity and LGBTQ+ activism in the future.