Altria

Virginia
Food Beverage and Tobacco

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Altria Group, a tobacco company, vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees. However, it has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. Altria supports the Equality Act and is a coalition partner of America Competes. The company is a member of the Freedom for All Americans coalition and opposes anti-LGBTQ legislation. Altria's CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge and has donated to the Equality PAC and the National Urban League. The company is a copper sponsor of Out & Equal and a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). Altria Group discriminates against religious organizations in its charitable giving and has donated to the Equality PAC. For these reasons, Altria Group receives a High Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Altria received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index. Among other requirements, this means Altria has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1)(2). However, the company has not publicly terminated business relationships due to religious beliefs or political views. 

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Altria will not fund “religious organizations” (1).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Altria Group does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1)(2).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Altria signed an open letter in support of the Equality Act and is a coalition partner of America Competes (1)(2). The company was part of the Freedom for All Americans coalition, which advocated for federal legislation that would overrule state laws designed to protect girls’ sports and similar laws (3). Altria signed an open letter opposing a Florida bill that would prevent teaching gender identity and sexual orientation in schools to kids in K-3rd grade (4). The company’s CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace (5)(6). Altria supports ESG within its business practices (7).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Altria has a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). The company has made a corporate donation to the National Urban League and has pledged over $5 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (3)(4)(5). Altria is a copper sponsor of Out & Equal and is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) (6)(7).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
Rationale

Altria Group has donated to the Equality PAC but has not lobbied for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 8, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/18/23SocialSisters of St. Francis of PhiladelphiaReport on Racial Justice impacts/PlanAgainst30.80%
5/18/23GovernanceTrinity HealthReport on All Political Influence Spending Values CongruencyAgainst10.90%
5/19/22SocialSisters of St. FrancisCivil Rights Equity AuditAgainst62.16%
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