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LGBTQ+ Consumers Pull Spending From Firms Seen Cutting DEI

An HRC Foundation survey finds transparency with consistent public support determines whether LGBTQ+ shoppers reward or punish brands.

Overview

  • The HRC Foundation survey reports nearly 72% of LGBTQ+ respondents buy less from companies they view as reducing diversity and inclusion commitments.
  • About 70% of respondents said they have refused purchases from those companies at least some of the time and roughly the same share said they increase spending at firms they see as inclusive.
  • Survey participants most often linked reduced spending to Target, Walmart, Amazon, Chick-fil-A, and Home Depot while naming Costco, Apple, Ben & Jerry's, Delta, and Kroger as the main beneficiaries.
  • HRC also flagged a sharp retreat from public DEI benchmarking with Fortune 500 participation in its Corporate Equality Index falling from 377 firms to 131 firms, a drop HRC says weakens public trust signals.
  • Amazon told reporters it continues to support employee opportunity and a diverse customer base while other named companies did not immediately comment, leaving transparency and steady public stances as key risks and opportunities for brands.