More than half of Fortune 500 companies dropped out of a major LGBTQ+ workplace survey this year, even as many maintained or expanded inclusive policies. The Human Rights Campaign’s annual Corporate Equality Index, or CEI, evaluates non-discrimination policies, equitable benefits, inclusive workplace culture, and corporate social responsibility. In its 2026 report, HRC recorded a 65% drop in Fortune 500 participation, from 377 companies to just 131.
HRC noted that many companies exiting the survey hold federal contracts. However, the silver lining is that despite the decline in reporting, HRC’s year-over-year analysis found that implementation of CEI-measured policies was sustained or increased, with no declines across any criterion. Several large companies, including Tractor Supply, Ford, Lowe’s, and Walmart, publicly walked back DEI efforts during the 2024 presidential campaign and early in the president’s second term, and did not participate in the latest index.
HRC emphasized that not reporting does not necessarily mean initiatives have stopped. Overall, 1,450 companies participated in the 2026 CEI. Of those, 534 earned a perfect score of 100, representing nearly 6 million U.S. employees. HRC research shows companies with transparent queer-inclusive policies average net income more than eight times higher than their peers.
