Them Before Us, a nonprofit organization seeking to protect children and defend their natural rights, has issued a report on how the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index encourages companies to mutilate children through transgender policies. No longer can companies claim ignorance.
HRC, a pro-LGBT advocacy organization, launched the Corporate Equality Index in 2002 to push ideological “LGBTQ+ inclusive policies” on businesses. Companies complete the index survey and submit documentation to prove their woke policies, including family healthcare coverage for transgender surgeries, restroom and dress code “inclusion,” and LGBT trainings for staff.
“HRC’s Corporate Equality Index is anti-child. No company should support it,” the report states.
The transgender medical benefits that the index requires fund the surgical mutilation and sterilization of children. They also require access to puberty blockers, which significantly increase the risk of infertility and cancer, according to Do No Harm.
More than 500 companies cover transgender healthcare for their employees, according to the 1792 Exchange, a nonprofit organization that encourages companies to abandon ideology and return to business. A 2019 study found three-tenths of U.S. insurance plans offer puberty blockers for minors.
For decades, HRC has cited the American Medical Association to justify the transition of children. Yet, last month, both AMA and the Association of American Plastic Surgeons discouraged surgical and hormonal sex intervention on minors.
Many Harms
Not only does the Corporate Equality Index demand companies still cover such disfigurement, but it also supports the transition of grown adults, leaving young children wounded and confused by parents’ decisions.
“HR policies that support adult transgender surgeries are funding the death of a mother or father, figuratively or even literally (recent studies indicate a 40 percent likelihood of suicide attempt),” TBU’s report explains.
Transgender adults face more than a 30 percent increased likelihood to struggle with anxiety and depression, according to TBU’s research. More anxious and depressed parents exacerbate a child’s own struggle with such worries, according to research.
‘Family Formation’ Benefits that Harm Families
Furthermore, the HRC index demands “family formation” benefits for domestic partners, which includes the coverage of reproductive technology that demands the severance of a child from one or both biological parents. Artificial reproduction, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), also creates and then subsequently destroys numerous lives for every one success. Additionally, children created via IVF statistically face greater risk of premature births, birth defects, childhood diseases, and cancer, according to TBU’s research.
TBU’s report states it bluntly: “The CEI drives corporate policies that directly harm children’s bodies, identities, and family bonds.”
The “benefits” that HRC pushes “violate a child’s right to his biological mother and father, setting them up for a life of struggle,” TBU states.
2026 Index Marks Massive Company Retreat
Thankfully, businesses’ participation in HRC’s index dropped 60 percent among Fortune 500 companies, according to HRC’s press release. This year, 534 companies earned a perfect score of 100, indicating their “inclusive LGBTQ policies.” These perfect scores mark a 30 percent decrease compared to the 765 perfect companies in 2025, according to 1792.
Despite the significant drop in businesses’ participation, HRC claims no substantial change occurred between 2025 and 2026: “Year-over-year analysis of 2025 and 2026 submissions show that implementation of policies and practices measured by the CEI was sustained or increased, with no declines across any criterion,” HRC’s press release claims.
In reality, not only did fewer companies participate and perform well, but the Corporate Equality Index itself lowered its standards — dropping the majority of the qualifications in two of its four subcategories. Companies only needed to meet one out of five policies under LGBT “workforce trainings,” whereas previously a company had to meet at least four. Similarly, companies only had to demonstrate one “social outreach” initiative, as opposed to at least five in years prior, according to data from 1792.
“Last year, CEI participation essentially plateaued. But this year it’s actually plummeted,” 1792 Director of Research Dustin DeVito said in an interview.
Companies Claim Ignorance of HRC’s Agenda
While the significant decrease in participation is progress, 534 “perfect score” companies is still significant. Even more concerning is the lack of awareness many companies have regarding the true mission of HRC and the policies demanded by its index. DeVito said many large company leaders have no idea their organization is supporting the HRC and participating in the index.
“Human Rights Campaign. Well, that sounds pretty noble — the company doesn’t know anything about it. It’s an innocuous name,” DeVito said.
While leadership may not know what policy advocacy they help fund, the real-life harms of HRC’s mission have damaged millions of lives — lives of the most vulnerable: children.
Companies Must Flee Wokeism
Companies can no longer claim ignorance as an excuse for supporting HRC. The evidence has been apparent for years, and now, a nearly 50-page report details the ways children are harmed by HRC pushing transgenderism.
While businesses have been backtracking for nearly two years, far too many still bow to HRC’s wokeism. Additionally, many companies that have ceased participating in the index are still supporting LGBT organizations and social propaganda.
The truth is clear. Companies can’t deny it, and they shouldn’t fear economic or social backlash. Walmart — one of the largest global companies — not only cut ties with HRC’s index in 2024, but recently updated its public benefits to exclude the coverage of transgender procedures for minors.
“Gender reassignment surgery is not considered medically necessary for individuals under the age of 18,” the benefits read.
Companies should follow Walmart’s lead, boldly and quickly.
