Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

Brown Brothers Harriman received a score of 100 on the 2026 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (1)(2)(3). Brown Brothers Harriman received a score of 85 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (4)(5). The company is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment, incorporating ESG issues into investment analysis, decision-making, and other business practices (6)(7). The company promotes divisive sex and gender policies. Its Supplier Code requires international vendors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy (8)(9). However, Brown Brothers has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (10).

Brown Brothers Harriman’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2)(3). Brown Brothers Harriman’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (4)(5). Brown Brothers Harriman does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations based on views or beliefs (6).

Brown Brothers Harriman’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend at least one, controversial training on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (1)(2)(3). Brown Brothers Harriman’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend multiple, controversial trainings on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (4)(5). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its hiring. From its 2023 Stewardship Report: “we spend time to understand if, and how,
our prospective and existing managers have sought diverse talent when hiring” and “We made important strides this year towards advancing our DEI efforts, starting with a significant increase in women and people of color hired” (6). The bank offers unconscious bias training to its employees (7). The company operates a supplier diversity program. “BBH suppliers must provide an inclusive and supportive working environment and take appropriate steps to encourage employee diversity across their organization” (8). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (9).

Brown Brothers Harriman’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company potentially agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2)(3). Brown Brothers Harriman’s CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (4)(5). The company supports DEI within its business practices, employing two DEI officers (6)(7). Brown Brothers supports DEI within its business practices. From its website: “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) remain a strategic priority for BBH overall and for each of our businesses. We believe supporting DEI is critical to our success and we have made investments in programs and events designed to promote acceptance, understanding, and connection” (8). Also, from its 2023 stewardship report: “We identify and pursue initiatives in the marketplace that demonstrate our commitment to DEI and enable us to share best practices across industries to drive broad changes” (9). The company scored a 55 out of 100 on the 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group (10)(11).

Brown Brothers Harriman’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits, lab monitoring, and mental health benefits. The company also covers at least five of the following services: reconstructive hair removal, cosmetic hair removal, tracheal shave or reduction, facial surgeries, voice modification surgery, voice modification therapy, lipoplasty or filling for body masculinization or feminization, and travel and lodging expenses. Additionally, the company has potentially pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2)(3)(4). Brown Brothers Harriman’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (5)(6). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of Brown Brothers using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (7).

Brown Brothers Harriman does not operate a PAC at this time and has not used its lobbying for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3).