More than two decades ago, when gay men and lesbians were prohibited from serving openly in the U.S. military and no state had legalized same-sex marriages, a national LGBTQ+ rights group decided to promote change by grading corporations on their workplace policies.
The Human Rights Campaign initially focused its report card, named the Corporate Equality Index, on ensuring that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer employees did not face discrimination in hiring and on the job. Just 13 companies received a perfect score in 2002. By last year, 545 businesses did even though the requirements have expanded.
But the scorecard itself has come under attack in recent months by conservative activists who targeted businesses as part of a broader pushback against diversity initiatives. Ford, Harley- Davidson and Lowe’s are among the companies that announced they would no longer participate in the Corporate Equality Index.
Capitalism didn’t start accepting women, blacks, latinos, and LGBTQ+ because they are humans with intrinsic value to their lives simply for existing.
No, not at all.
Capitalism started accepting women, blacks, latinos, and LGBTQ+ because they realized they were leaving money on the table.
Some of those people capitalism was rejecting might be good workers, and if they’re a good worker, they might spend money, and if they spend money, the capitalists want them spending their money on their businesses.
Companies really started marketing to women once women were allowed to have their own bank accounts. Coincidence? Hardly.
Once the same thing starts losing them money? It’s out the window.