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The Walt Disney Company has reaffirmed its commitment to the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Corporate Equality Index after shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to withdraw from the diversity ranking.

The initiative, which evaluates companies on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, has awarded Disney a perfect score every year since 2007.

At Disney's annual shareholder meeting on Thursday, the National Center for Public Policy Research—a conservative think tank—put forward a proposal urging the company to disengage from the HRC index, BusinessInsider said.

The group argued that Disney's involvement in politically charged issues has alienated customers and hurt shareholder value.

However, only 1% of investors supported the motion, signaling strong backing for the company's diversity efforts.

Disney's board had advised against the proposal, stating in a proxy statement that the initiative did not add value to shareholders.

Despite broader corporate trends where some companies, including Ford and Lowe's, have scaled back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, Disney remains steadfast in its approach.

The company continues to offer inclusive benefits, workplace protections, and training programs aimed at fostering an equitable work environment.

Disney Reaffirms Commitment to Inclusion, Rejects Exit Plan

The rejection of the proposal highlights Disney's long-standing commitment to inclusion, despite ongoing political and social pressures.

In 2022, the company publicly opposed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's controversial "Don't Say Gay" law, which restricts discussions of gender and sexuality in schools.

The move led to political retaliation, including the state's takeover of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which previously allowed Disney to self-govern its theme parks in Florida.

In recent months, corporate America has faced mounting scrutiny over DEI programs. Under the Trump administration, federal agencies have been ordered to roll back diversity initiatives, and companies such as Walmart and Target have adjusted their policies in response to political and shareholder concerns.

However, Disney joins major corporations like Apple and Costco, whose shareholders have similarly rejected efforts to scale back DEI commitments.

Disney has also made adjustments to its corporate strategy.

Recently, the company replaced its executive compensation criteria that emphasized DEI with a broader "talent strategy" metric, which evaluates leadership based on advancing company values, Reuters said.

Despite this change, Disney continues to advocate for workplace equity and inclusive policies.

In addition to the diversity proposal, Disney's shareholders voted on other key business matters. All 10 board members were re-elected, and PricewaterhouseCoopers was retained as the company's independent auditor.

Investors also approved a non-binding resolution on executive compensation but rejected a proposal calling for a report on retirement plan investments in high-carbon companies.

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