Altria
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
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.
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.
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.
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Altria will not fund “religious organizations” (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
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).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
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).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 8, 2023
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Voting History
| Date | ESG Category | Proponent | Summary of Resolution | Mgmt Rec | Total Vote % in Favor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/18/23 | Social | Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia | Report on Racial Justice impacts/Plan | Against | 30.80% |
| 5/18/23 | Governance | Trinity Health | Report on All Political Influence Spending Values Congruency | Against | 10.90% |
| 5/19/22 | Social | Sisters of St. Francis | Civil Rights Equity Audit | Against | 62.16% |