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Human Rights Campaign survey highlights LGBT-friendly NC companies

A report released Thursday ranked Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and Bank of America among companies and law firms labeled “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality” in the state.

The report was issued by the Human Rights Campaign — the largest nonprofit LGBT advocacy group in the U.S. — and surveyed 781 companies nationally, including 15 in North Carolina.

The report ranked companies and law firms based on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, which takes into account factors like a business’s non-discrimination policies, employee benefits and public commitment to LGBT equality. The report included companies in a variety of industries, from banking and financial services to telecommunications.

Seven out of the 15 groups surveyed in North Carolina, including companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield and law firms like Winston Salem’s Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP, received a perfect 100 percent ranking.

"When it comes to LGBT equality, Corporate America is a leader, not a follower,” said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “At every turn, from advocating for marriage equality to providing vital support for transgender employees, this country's leading companies have asked, 'what more can we do?,' and they've worked tirelessly to achieve new progress."

Other notable N.C. companies on the list included Duke Energy, which scored 90 percent, and BB&T, which scored 80. The non-profit based findings off of data gathered through an online survey, tax fillings and case law, as well as news accounts.

Nationally, the group found that 336 companies scored 100 percent —the highest number since the index was founded in 2002. The organization saw an increase in the number of companies that are including gender identity and provisions for transgender employees, like healthcare plans with transgender-inclusive policies, in their anti-discrimination guidelines.

The non-profit also rated 306 Fortune 500 companies, 150 of which scored 100 percent, and provided unofficial rankings for an additional 190.

Among the Fortune 500 companies, businesses like Apple Inc., Chevron Corporation and AT&T Inc. scored 100 percent, while Exxon Mobil Corporation ranked low with a score of -25.

Griffin added that many companies still don't have workplace protections that specifically address sexual orientation and gender identity, meaning that there's still work to be done.

"Too many LGBT people — transgender people in particular — face high rates of unemployment and discrimination in hiring, keeping them from ever getting a foot in the door in the first place," he said.

state@dailytarheel.com

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