Lowe's becomes latest company to dial back DEI efforts aimed at LGBTQ groups
Home goods retailer Lowe's is paring back its efforts to promote LGBTQ inclusion — the latest large company to respond to a growing cultural backlash led by conservatives targeting queer representation in public life.
Home goods retailer Lowe's is paring back its efforts to promote LGBTQ inclusion — the latest large company to respond to a growing cultural backlash led by conservatives targeting queer representation in public life.
In an internal company memo being widely shared among media organizations, Lowe's told employees it was ending its participation in surveys for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the country’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group, and would also combine company resource groups designed to support minority employees into one umbrella organization.
The company said it would also end sponsorship and participation in community events such as parades, festivals or fairs — a reference to Pride parades. As recently as 2019, Lowe's was a sponsor of the Pride parade in Charlotte, North Carolina.
A company spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Though some media reports suggested Lowe's was reversing its diversity efforts writ large, the changes appear to specifically target LGBTQ representation. Lowe's has previously won praise as a diversity champion — it earned a perfect score in HRC's most recent corporate equity index that examines its policies protecting LGBTQ workers.
Rating: 5