The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has enlisted 503 companies as part of its Business Coalition for the Equality Act. According to the nonprofit, the coalition “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.”
Among the hundreds of member companies in the coalition are Abercrombie & Fitch, American Express, CVS, General Motors, United Airlines, and Verizon, among many others.
Wilma Wallace, the Chief Diversity & Social Impact Officer at REI (another coalition member), said in a statement, “Our co-op and broader society are stronger when everyone—in consideration of their race, gender identity and sexual orientation—can prosper and feel welcome to be their full selves.”
According to the HRC, the companies within the coalition employ more than 15 million Americans and generate $7.2 trillion of America’s yearly economic activity.
Joni Madison, Interim President at the Human Rights Campaign said, “In 2022, no person should ever be subjected to harassment or discrimination because of who they are. The Equality Act will take major strides toward ensuring that LGBTQ+ people are treated with equal dignity in the eyes of the law, and affirm the longstanding American value that everyone deserves to be treated equally and fairly. It’s time for the Senators of both parties to support the Equality Act and send it to President Biden’s desk for his signature.”
Last year, the House passed the Equality Act, however, it has since stalled in the Senate and doesn’t seem to be any closer to getting passed into law. Hopefully, the support of companies across America will send a message to congress that the people want equality for everyone.
To make your voice heard, contact your senators and let them know that you want everyone to feel safe and protected in the workplace. You can find your congresspeople here.
