Braintree

PayPal, Braintree’s parent company, received a score of 100 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 (1)(2). PayPal has shut down numerous accounts for violating its Acceptable Use Policy, including GiveSendGo, a widely-used Christian crowdfunding platform (3). PayPal banned evolutionary biologist and writer Colin Wright from receiving payments after Mr. Wright claimed that there are biological differences between males and females and pushed back on popular theories surrounding gender (4)(5). PayPal also partners with the SPLC to identify “hate groups” and “extremists” and consequently suspend their accounts (6). PayPal also suspended the account of Moms for Liberty, only unfreezing the account after Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis brought the matter to light (7). PayPal canceled the Gmail account of Gays Against Groomers, “a coalition of gay individuals who oppose the sexualization, indoctrination and medicalization of children” (8)(9). In the fall of 2022, PayPal announced a new Terms of Service Policy that would fine users $2,500 for “misinformation.” After immense and immediate backlash, PayPal changed the policy to fine users for “intolerance” as opposed to “misinformation” (10). PayPal banned Freedom Phone, a mobile phone startup with its own app store (11). PayPal also suspended the personal account of British journalist Toby Young and later the account for his publication, the Daily Skeptic (12). PayPal reversed those suspensions after pressure from members of the British Parliament. PayPal suspended UsForThem, a group of parents fighting to keep schools open during COVID-19 (13).

PayPal‘s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2). Braintree provides its services at a discounted rate to accredited nonprofits, and the company does not exclude faith-affiliated organizations from its discount (3). However, PayPal’s Giving Fund requires that charitable giving is made to organizations that have not breached its Acceptable Use Policy, which prohibits transactions related to “the promotion of hate, violence, racial or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory” (4). PayPal has partnered with the ADL to vet charitable organizations (5).

PayPal‘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 (1)(2). Braintree does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (3)(4).

PayPal‘s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company 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). Braintree signed an open letter endorsing the Equality Act, a contentious proposal to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by adding sexual orientation and so-called gender identity as protected categories. The legislation would, among other implications, grant biological men access to women-only spaces such as sports teams and public restrooms, and compel healthcare providers to deliver sex-denying healthcare (3). The company also opposed state-level efforts to protect the integrity of women’s sports (4). PayPal denounced election integrity legislation at the state level (5). PayPal opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibits teaching gender identity and sexual orientation in schools to kids in K-3rd grade (6). PayPal CEO Dan Schulman released a letter opposing the decision overturning Roe v. Wade (7). PayPal scored a 100 out of 100 on the 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group (8)(9).

PayPal‘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. Additionally, the company has 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). PayPal’s Giving Fund has donated to the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood and has partnered with the Anti-Defamation League (3)(4). PayPal aprovides a benefits package for employees that covers travel/lodging costs for an abortion (5). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the PayPal using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (6). Braintree has not used corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (7).

PayPal’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). Braintree does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (3)(4)(5). Braintree’s parent firm, PayPal, has not used its PAC donations or lobbying for ideological purposes (6)(7)(8)