Ford Motor, along with other companies such as Tractor Supply, Harley Davidson, and Lowe’s, is scaling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives citing conservative backlash and changing social and political environments. Ford will no longer use quotas for minority dealerships or suppliers, will cease participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, and will no longer feature on various “best places to work” lists. This decision comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling overturning affirmative action in colleges, leading to increasing pressure from conservative activists on social media for companies to abandon DEI efforts.
The move has been driven in part by anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck, who clarified that his campaign is not anti-LGBTQ but rather against the introduction of sexuality-related issues into the workplace, regardless of sexual orientation. Starbuck’s efforts have received support from the Log Cabin Republicans, a group of politically conservative gay GOP members. Companies aim to refocus on their core business, customers, teams, and communities rather than publicly commenting on divisive issues.
Industrial and organizational psychologist Derek Avery noted that conservative state attorney generals have warned companies of potential lawsuits if they continue promoting DEI practices that could be construed as against the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action. Companies like Ford are reevaluating their DEI policies and practices in light of these developments to maintain a balance between social responsibility and legal considerations.
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