Southwest Airlines Leads in LGBTQ+ Workplace Equality for the Ninth Consecutive Year

Southwest Airlines Co. has once again set a benchmark in promoting workplace equality by securing a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). This marks the ninth year in a row that Southwest has earned top scores, affirming its unwavering commitment to LGBTQ+ equality among its workforce. The airline stands alongside 545 major U.S. businesses recognized this year for their efforts in creating inclusive work environments.

Southwest's consistent performance in the CEI highlights the company's long-standing principle of prioritizing its people. Juan Suarez, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Southwest Airlines, emphasized the airline's dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace for all its LGBTQ+ employees. This accomplishment showcases Southwest's role as a leader in workplace inclusion, aligning with its broader mission of putting people first.

The CEI, known as the nation's premier benchmarking survey for LGBTQ+ workplace equality, assesses corporate policies and practices across various dimensions of workplace inclusion. From its inception with 319 participants, the CEI has seen significant growth, with 1,384 companies participating in the latest survey. Remarkably, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses now have specific non-discrimination protections for gender identity, a dramatic increase from just 17 in 2002. These protections extend to approximately 21 million employees both in the U.S. and globally, indicating a profound shift towards greater workplace equality.

Southwest Airlines' perfect score and receipt of the Equality 100 Award underscore the airline's comprehensive efforts to meet all of CEI's criteria, including non-discrimination policies, equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families, fostering an inclusive culture, and engaging in corporate social responsibility.

The CEI's expanding participation and the evolving business landscape reflect a growing acknowledgment of the importance of equity and inclusion in the corporate world. RaShawn "Shawnie" Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality, highlighted the crucial role businesses play in advancing LGBTQ+ equality through workplace inclusion. As the CEI continues to serve as a guiding blueprint for companies, it underscores the ongoing journey towards a more inclusive society where businesses actively support LGBTQ+ employees and their families amid challenges.

Southwest Airlines' achievement in the 2023-2024 CEI is not just a testament to its policies and practices but also a beacon of hope and progress for LGBTQ+ workplace equality. As companies like Southwest lead by example, the path towards a more inclusive and equitable corporate environment becomes increasingly attainable.