Page 20 - BEQ Magazine Iss 20 Fall 2021 WebRev09272021

EQUITY IN BUSINESS AND THE PUBLIC SQUARE

CORPORATE EQUALITY DECLARATIONS
BY STATE
This map reveals a powerful narrative at play MIDWEST
in business and the public square in this country. IA: 3 MO: 3
IL: 26
ND: 0
First, let’s address the obvious. Why are there WA: 12 IN: 4 NE: 2 NORTHEAST
empty grey-colored states on this map of the United WEST MT: 0 KS: 0 OH: 13 ME: 1 CT: 6
DE: 4
States? We wanted to create a quick and easy way to AK: 0* OR: 3 ND: 0 MN: 11 MI: 8 SD: 0 MA: 21
WI: 6
MN: 11
AZ: 0
activate our community in the interest of equality CA: 77 ID: 1 MD: 10
in business and in the public square. A number of CO: 6 WY: 0 SD: 0 WI: 6 NY: 77 ME: 1
NH: 0
HI: 0*
major employers and organizations for various rea- ID: 1 MI: 8 PA: 16 NJ: 21
sons have decided to weigh in publicly in matters of MT: 0 NV: 2 IA: 3 NY: 77
PA: 16
diversity, equity and inclusion. In fact, many busi- NM: 0 UT: 0 NE: 2 IL: 26 IN: 4 OH: 13 RI: 2
NV: 2
ness leaders and public figures have emerged on a OR: 3 CA: 74 CO: 6 VT: 0
soapbox posing as authorities on diversity, equity, UT: 0 KS: 0 MO: 3 WV: 0
WA: 12
inclusion and justice—out of personal experience WY: 0 VA: 14 SOUTH
AL: 1
or conviction, social pressure or in some cases igno- AZ: 0 NM: 0 KY: 0 AR: 0
rance—to the detriment of the brands or causes they TN: 3 NC: 14 DC: 5
FL: 10
represent. COUNT BY STATE OK: 0 AR: 0 SC: 0 GA: 14
The public square has become noisy and mes- 0 MS: 0 AL: 1 GA: 14 KY: 0
sages can become convoluted thus allowing the 1-5 LA: 0 LA: 0
MS: 0
desired impact to be muted. Or worse yet, allow 6-9 TX: 20 NC: 14
11-19
brands we know and love to remain silent while ben- 21-50 FL: 10 OK: 0
SC: 0
efiting from the sidelines. This map is a state by state 50+ TN: 3
key of the businesses who publicly wear the badge *Alaska and Hawaii are not pictured . TX: 20
WV: 0
of Best Places to Work for the LGBTQ Equality, are Visit our website for details for by region and state VA: 14
proud members of the Human Rights Campaign’s BusinessEqualityMagazine.com/equity-in-business-and-the-public-square
Business Coalition for the Equality Act and/or they
include certified LGBT business enterprises in their the state. Many of our favorite equality-supporting
supplier diversity initiatives. No matter their flavor brands are operating in these 19 states and they
of equality in business and the public square, we enjoy some influence.
need to engage them, support them and in some
cases challenge them to live up to their public decla- WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
rations, commendations and prior actions in support
of equality. Our collective voice and economic power can
At a glance, there are 422 employer organizations have an impact. When there are public concerns,
that publicly support LGBTQ equality in business laws or actions that either negatively or positively
and in the public square grouped by the location of impact the LGBTQ+ community we can be heard as
their US headquarters. Follow the links as follows to employees, consumers, investors and/or citizens.
examine the details. Cultivating a meaningful relationship and con-
Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia nection with the LGBTQ+ community and allies has
have major employers that enjoy political, social and far reaching implications on the corporate bottom
economic influence within the state. There are 19 line. A deeper connection than the rainbow version
states without a large private sector employer orga- of their logo, an annual Pride sponsorship or the
nization headquartered within the state that has many commercial spots and ads declaring support
publicly advocated for the rights of LGBTQ people and solidarity with the Queer and Trans community
in the workplace, supply chain or located within over time.

20 FALL 2021 BUSINESSEQUALITYMAGAZINE .COM