Activision, EA, PlayStation, Microsoft Named In Best Places To Work For LGBTQ Equality List

The Human Rights Campaign has released the results of its 2021 Corporate Equality Index that shines a light on the US-based companies that are doing the best in regards to practices and policies related to LGBTQ workplace equality, and several gaming companies made the list.

The 2021 index includes 767 companies that received a top score for LGBTQ-inclusive policies, which is a record for the index. Included on the list with a perfect score are gaming giants like Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, as well as the retailer GameStop. Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon also made the list this year.

"The Corporate Equality Index comes out after a year the nation has faced a global pandemic, legitimate racial injustice and national unrest," the organization said. "Within this climate, companies have continued to advance vital workplace protections for LGBTQ employees around the world, as acknowledged in this report."

"To earn top ratings, these employers took concrete steps to establish and implement comprehensive policies, benefits, and practices that ensure greater equity for LGBTQ workers and their families."

Smaller game companies, and major ones based outside of the US, are not included in this ranking, as it only applies mid- to large-size businesses in the country.

The Human Rights Campaign acknowledged that its list is not perfect, but it claims to offer a "foundation upon which employees can feel more comfortable living and working as their true selves--an important step, but one which is only the starting point."

Activision Blizzard specifically recently came under fire from a Vice report that said the gaming company was trying to avoid a situation where it needed to interview at least one diverse candidate when looking to fill a job. Activision Blizzard has since shot back at the Vice report, telling GI.biz in a statement that the site "mischaracterized" the real situation.

You can read the full Human Rights Campaign report here [PDF].