Tractor Supply announced its decision to cease sponsoring LGBTQ+ events and submitting data to the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, signaling a broader trend. Major brands, including Ford, Lowe’s, and Walmart, followed suit, citing internal policy reviews and pressures from activists such as Robby Starbuck. The HRC index, a benchmark for LGBTQ+ workplace equality, has become a flashpoint in politically charged debates on diversity and inclusion efforts. The HRC highlights that consumers are more likely to support brands that affirm the LGBTQ+ community. Conservative Activist Robby Starbuck believes corporate diversity policies are “blatantly illegal” and violate civil rights laws, motivating his activism.
