Law Firms
Law Firms Outshine Other Companies in Ranking by Gay Rights Group
Posted Sep 14, 2009, 06:10 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
Law firms have come a long way since the Human Rights Campaign Foundation started including them in ratings based on their protections and benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
In 2006, the first year law firms were included in the Human Rights Campaign survey, 12 got a perfect rating of 100 percent. This year an unprecedented 88 law firms got perfect ratings, “eclipsing every other industry represented on the index,” according to a press release. The group evaluated 127 law firms in all; 124 of them were among the nation’s largest 200 law firms.
The group’s Corporate Equality Index 2010 examines several factors, according to the press release, including whether the law firm:
• Has a written nondiscrimination policy and training covering sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Provides insurance that covers transgender-related treatments.
• Supports same-sex partners of employees with health insurance.
• Does not engage in activities “that would undermine the goal of equal rights for LGBT people.”
The press release lists the 88 law firms with perfect scores. Another 28 law firms achieved ratings of at least 80 percent.
Hat tip to Perkins Coie.
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