The Human Rights Campaign just released its 2015 Corporate Equality Index, which rates hundreds of companies on their friendliness to LGBTs. That’s handy for a whole host of reasons, whether you’re job hunting or trying to figure out where to invest. But at this time of year, it’s especially convenient for holiday-shopping.
We’ve combed through the report and compiled a list of the gay-friends stores where you should be spending tons of cash, and the homophobic stores you should avoid at all costs.
Clothing
No big surprise here, but San Franciscan Levi Strauss & Co is at the top of the list, with a perfect score. Macy’s and Nike are also perfect-scorers, followed by Kenneth Cole, Ralph Lauren, and Aeropostale with nearly-perfect ranking. At the bottom of the list is L.L. Bean — you weren’t seriously considering buying from them anyway, though, were you? L.L. Bean has a couple of problems, ranging from failure to offer trans-inclusive health care and a lack of public commitment to equality.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And then there’s The Jones Group, owner of Nine West (among other labels). They aren’t terrible — their score is 60 — but among their problems is a failure to offer cultural diversity training.
The lowest score came from Hanover Direct, which is baffling, because that’s the company that owns International Male and Undergear! Something’s screwy there. They sell to flamboyant homosexuals but barely offer any benefits to the queers they employ? Crazy.
At the Mall
This is a big category, so we’re just going to pick some of our favorites from the list. Go read the full CEI report if you want the exhaustive listing.
Perfect scorers: Barnes & Noble, GameStop, Office Depot, Sears and Target.
High-scorers: Mattel, Tiffany, CB2, Hallmark, Williams-Sonoma and L’Oreal.
Low-scorers: Harry & David, RadioShack, Men’s Warehouse and Kohl’s.
Flying Home
Good news: all major airlines have super-progressive policies when it comes to queer employees! Alaska, American, Jetblue, United and Virgin all got perfect scores of 100, with Delta, Southwest and US Air close behind at 90. (All three lost points by failing to offer trans-inclusive health coverage.)
And if you’re thinking about a cruise instead of a flight this winter, go ahead and book with Royal Caribbean. They scored 80.
Tech Toys
You probably already knew that Apple loves the gays. Dell ranked highly, too, along with some computer companies that aren’t likely to appear on your holiday list (unless you’re planning on getting someone a Xerox copier for Kwanzaa). Adobe and Microsoft nabbed scores of 100 as well. Texas Instruments and NVIDIA scored fairly well, so go ahead and get that graphing calculator and gaming machine.
Low-scorers: Acer, which makes PCs; and Seagate, which makes hard drives. McAfee, the virus-scanning company, had a dismal score of 25, due in part to lousy policies on equal employment and partner benefits. So when you go home and fix your parents’ computers, don’t install McAfee software. And if your parents have a McAfee subscription, cancel it. (It’s worth mentioning that McAfee was purchased not long ago by Intel, which scored 100, so maybe that low score will change next year.)
It pains us to say this, but Polaroid scored just 30. The company does almost nothing good for LGBTs, aside from a publicity gimmick with Lady Gaga.
Entertainment
Go ahead and give gift certificates to AMC theaters — they got a perfect score. So did Sony and Disney, so buy those Blu-rays with confidence. Nextflix got a score of 80 — they lost points due to a lack of spousal benefits, cultural competency training, and employee groups — but that’s still not bad.
Shockingly, News Corp scored just 15. So if you needed another reason to hate Fox News, there you go.
Online Shopping
If you’re buying from a major online retailer, you probably don’t have to worry. Groupon, eBay, Overstock and Amazon all ranked super-high. So did AOL, but we’re not sure what to do about that since what do you even buy from AOL?
Liberty Interactive got a score of zero. You might not recognize the name, but you probably know their properties: don’t do business with Evite, Gifts.com, QVC and Proflowers. The Home Shopping Network, on the other hand, got a score of 85.
Shipping
If you have a choice between FedEx and UPS, go brown. The scores are close — 90 for UPS and 85 for FedEx. The only difference is that FedEx doesn’t do quite as well when it comes to spousal benefits.
Mining and Metals
Trying to figure out where to buy your raw iron ore? Alcoa scored 100, while Newmont Mining Corporation for a 60.
This category probably doesn’t apply to your holiday shopping. We’re just being thorough.
VampDC
Great list. Would like to see this done more actively on this site.
It’s a shame L.L. Bean didn’t score well. I love wearing and the look of a man in L.L. Bean 🙂
1EqualityUSA
raw iron ore, breakfast of champions.
LorriTiger243
Actually, Alcoa makes aluminum foil. So…buy Reynolds Wrap.
trelin
Constantly forgotten on this list is Nordstrom, who also scores a perfect 100, and has outwardly supported the LGBT-community for a VERY long time.
trelin
@VampDC: LLBean scored a 65 only because their trans policies are a bit muddled. Everything else is solid.
iltman
As a Brit I find it interesting that most of these companies have no presence in the UK, apart from the obvious ones like Apple, it would be useful if there were similar indexes for European companies
ahsheb
Gap Inc. brands (Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, Athleta, Intermix) also consistently makes the 100% list!
scotshot
@LorriTiger243: Alcoa owns a chunk of the largest mining co. in the world which, among other metals, mines iron ore.
hyhybt
There are, of course, other considerations. For instance, I lean towards Seagate hard drives because almost all the ones I find are either that or Western Digital, and the latter made EVERY SINGLE ONE of the drives I’ve ever had that failed. It’s not entirely rational; for all I know the only difference may be the sticker, but repeatedly losing data is a strong incentive.
LadyL
@hyhybt: No, really? Well, there go my thoughts about buying a WD My Book (2 TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive with Backup)…
hyhybt
@LadyL: it’s probably coincidence; other people I know are the opposite for the same reason.
NiceNCool1
That’s surprising about Alcoa since it’s in East Tennessee. Only about 30 miles from my home. People here aren’t very gay friendly, so it’s nice to see a company not let the locals pressure them into being as bigoted at they are.
martinbakman
I learned a long time ago from multiple experiences to avoid sending food and snacks as gifts. Years ago I succumbed to a Harry and David promise to late shoppers (I know my fault for shopping late) that gifts would still arrive on time. Well, nothing I ordered from Harry and David arrived on time that year and my mother noted that the pears were spoiled.
I just noticed Trader Joe’s has a big Harry and David display in their local store and my mind still harkens back to those late and spoiled food gifts.
M
@scotshot: Alcoa (not original corporate name), was founded in Pittsburgh, PA in 1888. It’s currently headquartered in NYC. The town of Alcoa, TN was originally known as North Maryville. The company began buying land in that area of TN around 1910. The town name was changed around 1919.
M
@M: That response should have been for NiceNCool1 re Alcoa TN
shadrak5
Really, Amazon scored high? Has it been forgotten that they have ignored Eagle Scout Pascal Tessier’s petition last spring about its Amazon Smiles program and its contribution to the Boy Scouts?
hyhybt
@shadrak5: Why should that be an overriding factor for scoring? They let you choose where the tiny amount (50¢ per $100 spent, I think) goes from any non-profit you want. Essentially, it’s not Amazon giving them money, but Amazon giving *its customers* a few cents to drop in whatever virtual canister they want. (And though I signed up for it, I’m not even sure I should use the program; not because I don’t like Amazon, but because I don’t know that handling the tiny transactions is worthwhile for smaller recipients.)
Gman23
It would be nice to have a list like this for Charitable Organizations. I limit my charitable donations because I don’t know the organizations policies toward the gay community. I’d prefer to donate only to pro gay charitable organizations. F the others – let them get their money from Republicans.
TomOH
How does Target have a perfect score? They’ve come under fire a number of times over the years for donating to anti-gay organizations and politicians. I wouldn’t call them totally anti-gay, but at the very least they have a spotty record. This has me doubting the accuracy of this report, to be honest.
nevereclipsed81
yay i have an excuse to go to Aeropostale. i was starting to feel too old, but if they have a perfect score I guess I’m gonna have to stop by.
MrKev
Not surprised at all that Kohl’s only got a 15. They’re nothing but pigs. I worked there for a total of a week before I quit. You wouldn’t believe some of the disgusting stuff that I heard from not only from other employees, but the supervisor as well. Haven’t spent a penny at one of their stores since.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
And don’t forget to add Exxon/Mobil to the list of naughty companies who’s Directors deserve having lumps of coal placed not in their stockings, but rather shoved up their vile arses for consistent refusal to grant the Gays full benefits……..
bgrkls
Buffalo Exchange is another company that treats its queer employees and customers extremely well.
DCFarmboi
Just remember the HRC scores are based on a non-binding promise from employers that they do not discriminate. Some companies that got high rating by their promise not to discriminate opposed putting such language in union contracts, which would be binding on them.
Captain Obvious
Ya’ll got way too much time on your hands. I’m gonna keep shopping at my favorite stores and you can keep worrying about where random people put their own personal funds in their free time.
Meanwhile drones have been in air for years, our drinking water is full of shit that shouldn’t be in it, and genetically modified food is common place.
Keep worrying about if the place you got your t-shirt from has a homophobic employee working there.
vive
Alcoa, really? So we’re going to support pretty much one of the most corrupt and worst polluters in the world? And Apple and Amazon with their slave-labor warehouse-worker conditions and Mafia-like tactics to destroy competitors and avoid taxes?
HRC should be called out for what it has always been – a corporate shill.
hyhybt
@vive: Why do so many people read this as if it were a comprehensive ranking of goodness? It is, and is presented as, a measure of *one* aspect of a business. It’s information available to take into consideration if that factor matters to you, to weigh among the other things you find important.
Sebizzar
Thanks for the list 🙂 I actually immediately got rid of McAfee Security Scan, it never helped my computer much anyway haha.