Re: ?A textbook example of what not to do?: Rights group hits back at Anheuser-Busch over its handling of a transgender influencer

On 19 Dec 2021, Rudy Canoza <[email protected]> posted some
news:[email protected]: 

> Shareholders need to have some executives executed for this.

The country’s largest advocacy group for LGBTQ+ rights has suspended its 
benchmark equality and inclusion rating for Anheuser-Busch, citing the 
beer company’s handling of the hate-filled and transphobic backlash to its 
partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney last month.

The Human Rights Campaign informed the Bud Light maker that it suspended 
the company’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index score — a tool that measures 
corporate policies, practices and benefits related to the well-being of 
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees — on May 9, 
according to a letter shared with the The Associated Press on Friday.

The suspension of Anheuser-Busch’s CEI score means that the company “no 
longer has the right to use the ‘Best Places to Work’ distinction,” HRC’s 
letter says. Prior to the suspension, Anheuser-Busch had a CEI score of 
100, the group’s top rating.

“What we’re seeing play out here is an example of companies making a 
decision to have and construct inclusive marketing, which is great — but a 
business should be standing by those decisions,” Eric Bloem, HRC’s senior 
director of programs and corporate advocacy, told The Associated Press. 
“The Anheuser-Busch (case) is a textbook example of what not to do.”

On April 1, as part of a March promotional contest for the beer brand, 
Mulvaney posted a Instagram video of herself cracking open a Bud Light.

A cascade of criticism and hate surrounding the video soon erupted, 
notably among conservative figures — with Kid Rock posting a video of 
himself shooting cases of Bud Light and others calling for a boycott of 
the brand. In the following weeks, the beer brand’s sales also fell 
slightly and two marketing executives at Anheuser-Busch took a leave of 
absence.

In an April 14 statement, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth said that 
the company “never intended to be part of a discussion that divides 
people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”

Anheuser-Busch’s actions and Whitworth’s statement did not not signal 
clear support for Mulvaney, however, or directly address the transphobic 
rhetoric perpetuated during the backlash — sparking concerns among the 
LGBTQ+ community and activists. Meaningful solidarity is especially 
important in a time where dozens of anti-LGBTQ+ bills are signed into law 
across the country, Bloem added.

In an April 26 letter, also seen by the AP, HRC called on Anheuser-Busch 
to issue a public statement expressing support for Mulvaney as well as 
transgender customers, shareholders and employees. The group also asked 
the company to hold a “meaningful conversation” with LGBTQ+ employees 
about their concerns and recommended actions for leadership and conduct a 
workplace transgender inclusion training for executives.

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HRC said it received no response from Anheuser-Busch, the advocacy group 
said, prompting the May 9 letter informing the company of its CEI score 
suspension. To date, Bloem said Friday, HRC has still not heard from the 
company — but the organization’s goal is to work with the company and 
“discuss strategies to show up and reaffirm that support for the LGBTQ+ 
community.”

Anheuser-Busch said Friday that the company remains “committed to the 
programs and partnerships we have forged over decades with organizations 
to drive economic prosperity across a number of communities, including 
those in the LGBTQ+ community.” The Bud Light maker, which is part of the 
Belgium-based brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev, did not address HCR’s 
letters.

Mulvaney took a few weeks before commenting publicly on the backlash — but 
posted a video to her Instagram page at the end of April thanking 
supporters, but did not mentioning Bud Light by name in the post.

USA TODAY first reported the Anheuser-Busch’s CEI score suspension on 
Thursday.

https://fortune.com/2023/05/19/lgbtq-group-suspends-bud-light-makers-
rating-transgender/?queryly=related_article