HRC's Corporate Empire Crumbles: 65% of Fortune 500 Companies Flee LGBT Equality Index

Fortune 500 Companies Abandon HRC Corporate Equality Index as DEI Backlash Intensifies

The Human Rights Campaign's grip on corporate America is crumbling at an unprecedented pace. According to the 2026 Corporate Equality Index, participation among Fortune 500 companies has plummeted by 65%, dropping from 377 companies in 2025 to just 131 in 2026.

The exodus began in earnest when Tractor Supply became the first major company to withdraw from the index. John Deere, Harley Davidson, Lowe's, and Ford quickly followed suit. Walmart and McDonald's have also pulled out, signaling a seismic shift in the corporate landscape.

The HRC, once considered one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in Washington, has been forced to lay off 20% of its staff as its influence wanes. The organization's own research acknowledges that "four in 10 U.S. workers" have reported "rollbacks in diversity and inclusion initiatives this year."

Companies faced a lose lose situation: a poor score invites public criticism from HRC, while a high score alienates consumers opposed to progressive corporate policies.

Stephen Soukup, author of The Dictatorship of Woke Capital, describes the phenomenon as a "preference cascade," a concept from economist Timur Kuran describing how authoritarian structures collapse when populations simultaneously realize opposition is not isolated.

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who has been at the forefront of grassroots campaigns pressuring corporations to drop DEI initiatives, called the shift "a total, resounding victory."

Many of the companies that dropped out of the index hold federal contracts, raising questions about whether government pressure under the current administration played a role in the mass withdrawal.

HRC Loses 65% of Fortune 500 Partners as Corporate DEI Programs Collapse Nationwide

The collapse of HRC's corporate influence reflects a broader cultural realignment. Since the Bud Light controversy in 2023, when Anheuser Busch lost billions in market value after partnering with a transgender influencer, corporations have been increasingly wary of aligning with progressive social causes.

HRC still claims that 534 companies earned a perfect score of 100 in their index, collectively representing nearly 6 million U.S. employees. However, the dramatic loss of Fortune 500 participation tells a different story about where corporate America is heading.

The Crusader's Opinion

For years, the Human Rights Campaign wielded the Corporate Equality Index like a weapon, bullying Fortune 500 companies into promoting an agenda that the majority of American families never asked for. Companies were told: comply or be publicly shamed. That era is over.

What we are witnessing is not just a business trend. It is the collapse of a coercive system that punished companies for not bowing to ideological demands. When four out of ten workers report DEI rollbacks, that is not a setback. That is the free market speaking. Christians and conservatives who voted with their wallets, who boycotted, who called out the hypocrisy, this is your victory. The preference cascade is real, and it is only accelerating.

Take Action

• Support companies that have dropped out of the HRC Corporate Equality Index by shopping with Tractor Supply, John Deere, Lowe's, Ford, and Harley Davidson. Let them know you appreciate their decision.
• Contact your elected representatives and urge them to ensure that federal contractors are not pressured into adopting ideological DEI requirements. Find your representatives at congress.gov.
• Follow Robby Starbuck's campaigns on social media to stay informed about which companies are still promoting radical agendas and which are pulling back.
• Support organizations defending religious liberty and traditional values, including The Shepherd's Shield and Alliance Defending Freedom.
• Share this article with your church community and small groups. Start a conversation about how Christians can use their purchasing power to promote values that honor God.