Report: More
major American companies than ever extend benefits to
gays

The latest edition of an annual study of corporate America's outreach to LGBT employees and consumers shows that a record number of major U.S. companies now offer fair benefits and protections. In the Human Rights Campaign's new Corporate Equality Index, released Tuesday, 138 businesses earned the top rating of 100%, up from 101 firms in 2005--and executives' awareness of their ratings is also apparently up. "I am incredibly encouraged and optimistic about the findings in this report," Joe Solmonese, HRC president, said in a statement. "Companies are not only working to improve their scores, they are actively competing to be ranked the most inclusive and fair-minded in their industry. Leading companies, which years ago instituted basic equal employment policies, are accelerating their efforts to expand the range of benefits. This competition sends a clear message that corporate America is rapidly becoming a place of fairness for GLBT Americans." The report shows that Raytheon Co., for example, was the only aerospace company to earn a perfect score last year. This year, however, three more members of the industry achieved a perfect score. Likewise, four major auto companies earned the top rating this year, up from two last year. "CEOs are very much aware of their score and its impact on their business," Solmonese said. "They know that a top score means a healthier work environment, greater productivity, and the ability to recruit top talent. They also know that a bad score will hurt their bottom line." This year's Corporate Equality Index also shows that 75% more companies than in 2005 officially banned discrimination against transgender employees in employment practices, and 35% more companies extended COBRA, vision, dental, and dependent medical coverage to employees' same-sex domestic partners. The report, which tracks factors ranging from nondiscrimination protections to diversity training, includes 446 companies this year. (The Advocate)