The transformation of a formerly praised gay rights index into a target for conservatives, including Walmart

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As Pride Month festivities were ending, Tractor Supply announced it would no longer sponsor events like pride celebrations and stopped submitting data to Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. This move led other companies like Ford and Walmart to also pull out of the index. Conservative activist Robby Starbuck played a role in urging companies to withdraw from diversity initiatives. This change in policy sparked backlash from LGBTQ+ groups and consumers, with concerns rising around federal judiciary rulings on diversity efforts. The shift away from corporate diversity initiatives reflects broader political pressure and legal concerns. Companies like Brown-Forman, Ford, Lowe’s, and more have decided to stop participating in the index and other diversity efforts, despite previously promoting their high scores. Advocates like Starbuck argue that current diversity efforts may be discriminatory against white people, while LGBTQ+ groups are pushing back against the disregard for LGBTQ+ issues. The Human Rights Campaign has seen companies withdrawing participation face score reductions, impacts on consumer support, and backlash from advocacy groups. This shift highlights a broader trend of companies retracting diversity promises made in response to George Floyd’s murder, signaling a shift in corporate America’s approach to diversity and inclusion efforts.

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