The countrys largest advocacy group for LGBTQ+ rights has suspended its benchmark equality and inclusion rating for Anheuser-Busch, citing the beer companys handling of the hate-filled and transphobic backlash to its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney last month.
The Human Rights Campaign informed the Bud Light maker that it suspended the companys 2022 Corporate Equality Index score a tool that measures corporate policies, practices and benefits related to the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees on May 9, according to a letter shared with the The Associated Press on Friday.
The suspension of Anheuser-Buschs CEI score means that the company no longer has the right to use the Best Places to Work distinction, HRCs letter says. Prior to the suspension, Anheuser-Busch had a CEI score of 100, the groups top rating.
What were seeing play out here is an example of companies making a decision to have and construct inclusive marketing, which is great but a business should be standing by those decisions, Eric Bloem, HRCs senior director of programs and corporate advocacy, told The Associated Press. The Anheuser-Busch (case) is a textbook example of what not to do.
On April 1, as part of a March promotional contest for the beer brand, Mulvaney posted a Instagram video of herself cracking open a Bud Light.
A cascade of criticism and hate surrounding the video soon erupted, notably among conservative figures with Kid Rock posting a video of himself shooting cases of Bud Light and others calling for a boycott of the brand. In the following weeks, the beer brands sales also fell slightly and two marketing executives at Anheuser-Busch took a leave of absence.
In an April 14 statement, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth said that the company never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.
Anheuser-Buschs actions and Whitworths statement did not not signal clear support for Mulvaney, however, or directly address the transphobic rhetoric perpetuated during the backlash sparking concerns among the LGBTQ+ community and activists. Meaningful solidarity is especially important in a time where dozens of anti-LGBTQ+ bills are signed into law across the country, Bloem added.
In an April 26 letter, also seen by the AP, HRC called on Anheuser-Busch to issue a public statement expressing support for Mulvaney as well as transgender customers, shareholders and employees. The group also asked the company to hold a meaningful conversation with LGBTQ+ employees about their concerns and recommended actions for leadership and conduct a workplace transgender inclusion training for executives.
HRC said it received no response from Anheuser-Busch, the advocacy group said, prompting the May 9 letter informing the company of its CEI score suspension. To date, Bloem said Friday, HRC has still not heard from the company but the organizations goal is to work with the company and discuss strategies to show up and reaffirm that support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Anheuser-Busch said Friday that the company remains committed to the programs and partnerships we have forged over decades with organizations to drive economic prosperity across a number of communities, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. The Bud Light maker, which is part of the Belgium-based brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev, did not address HCRs letters.
Mulvaney took a few weeks before commenting publicly on the backlash but posted a video to her Instagram page at the end of April thanking supporters, but did not mentioning Bud Light by name in the post.
USA TODAY first reported the Anheuser-Buschs CEI score suspension on Thursday.
