Confronted by the current presidential administrations relentless, politically motivated attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across the federal government and in every corner of American society from universities and research facilities to tech and the arts one constituency is standing firm in its commitment to DEI: the countrys most iconic corporations.A new analysis from the Human Rights Campaign indicates why: DEI is good for business. Related Costco defies boycott threats as shareholders vote to keep DEI initiatives Since the president took office in January, over 20 hostile shareholder resolutions were filed demanding companies shed their commitment to DEI, including Visa, Deere, Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Levis, American Express, Coca-Cola, Berkshire Hathaway, McDonalds, Amazon, Netflix, Walmart, Alphabet, American Airlines, Caterpillar, Best Buy, Mastercard, and Costco, according to Fortune.Filers of these resolutions criticized companies for all DEI policies and programs that grant or deny employment or advancement opportunities based on race, sex, or other protected characteristics. This rhetoric echoed the presidential administrations calls for terminating such policies, based on racially prejudiced and misogynistic far-right disparagement of DEI programs. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today But across those annual meetings, shareholders (representing over $9.8 trillion in value) have voted with management to continue DEI policies and programs.Those decisions werent based on altruism alone, if at all: HRCs study backs up previous research demonstrating that companies embracing DEI are more profitable than their peers that dont.Some of those resolutions opposing DEI specifically called out HRCs Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a leading benchmark for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.The new research by HRC and Whistle Stop Capital analyzes nearly two decades of CEI and corporate data, revealing that the longer a large company has had LGBTQ+ inclusive policies in place, the stronger its financial results.The analysis demonstrates that companies with high CEI scores saw greater cumulative revenue growth than low-scoring companies over a 15-year period. Over a 10-year period,top-scoring companies reportedaverage net income more than eight times higherthan their lowest-scoring peers. Additionally, higher CEI scores were linked togreater gross profitandmore stable share price performance, suggesting more consistent, long-term investor confidence. The findings debunk the political attacks on DEI as harmful to businesses, employees, and by extension, society at large.The data supports a thesis that we consider intuitive: companies dont grow by excluding talent or consumers, said Meredith Benton, Whistle Stop Capitals founder. Those companies with long-term high CEI scores are seeing the benefits of a virtuous cycle: Companies with strong relationships to the Pride community have built valuable workplace cultures, reputations, and brands over time.The findings bear out previous studies on the beneficial impacts of DEI on businesses bottom lines. Approximately 97% of LGBTQ+ employees who rated their organization highly on measures of inclusion expected to remain with their employer for the next year, according to a2023 survey from Out Leadership addressed in the Harvard Business Review. Conversely, just 38% of workers who rated their organization at the low end of the spectrum for LGBTQ+ inclusion anticipated remaining at their company over the same period. The costs of employee attrition are a drain on profitability, while employees who can claim all aspects of their identity are much more likely to go the extra mile for and stay with their employer. Even companies based in socially conservative states reap the benefits of DEI and LGBTQ+ inclusion. A 2023 study published by the London School of Economics showed the effect of LGBTQ+ inclusiveness on firm performance in traditionally red states is a net positiveor, at worst, neutral. This suggests that adoption of DEI does not have the detrimental repercussions that right-wing activists and social conservatives would have the public believe.This new data confirms what we have long known: Fairness and inclusion power innovation and growth,saidHRC President Kelley Robinson. Thats why the HRC Foundations Corporate Equality Index was born more than 20 years ago. When businesses embrace LGBTQ+ equality in their policies and practices, theyre not just doing the right thing for their employees and consumers theyre positioning themselves to outperform, out-innovate, and outlast their competitors.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.