American Airlines has made it clear that it will not be bullied into abandoning its long-standing support for LGBTQ+ inclusion. At its June 2025 annual shareholder meeting, the airline faced a resolution calling for it to withdraw from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. The Index is a national bench marking tool that evaluates companies on their policies, benefits, and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. The proposal came from conservative investors who have intensified efforts to pressure major corporations into distancing themselves from LGBTQ+ causes and rolling back commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Introduced by the National Center for Public Policy Research, the resolution reflected a broader campaign by anti-LGBTQ+ activists pushing companies to walk away from inclusive practices. American’s board of directors opposed the resolution and recommended that shareholders vote against it. Shareholders overwhelmingly agreed, with more than 273 million shares voted against the proposal and just over 6 million in support. The vote decisively aligned with the board’s recommendation and preserved the company’s participation in the Corporate Equality Index.
American Airlines has been recognized for its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion for decades. It was one of the first major U.S. airlines to include sexual orientation in its nondiscrimination policy and has offered domestic partner benefits since the 1990s. For more than 20 consecutive years, the company has received a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index. It regularly participates in LGBTQ+ Pride events and maintains internal employee resource groups focused on equity and belonging. These efforts reflect a broader corporate culture that prioritizes inclusion and support for historically marginalized communities.
While some companies have scaled back public support for DEI initiatives in response to political pressure, American Airlines and its shareholders chose a different course. By rejecting the proposal to leave HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, they affirmed the company’s long-standing commitment to inclusion. In a moment when LGBTQ+ rights and visibility face renewed attacks across many sectors, the vote offers a clear contrast to organizations dismantling their DEI efforts under pressure from conservative interest groups. Rather than retreat, American Airlines is choosing to uphold its values and move forward with integrity and not in fear.