Brown-Forman

Kentucky
Food Beverage and Tobacco

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Brown-Forman vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not protect its employees against viewpoint discrimination. However, the company 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 and is a Ceres network member. Brown-Forman discriminates against religious organizations in its charitable giving but has not used its political contributions for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Brown-Forman receives a Medium 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

Brown-Forman received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index. Among other requirements, this means the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1)(2). The company has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Brown-Forman does not fund “Religious organizations such as churches and synagogues” (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Brown-Forman does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Brown-Forman is a Ceres network member, which is a climate change alliance (1). The company published a Diversity and Inclusion Strategy in 2022 where it summarizes its advocacy and support for LGBTQ inclusion (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Brown-Forman 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).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Brown-Forman has not used its political contributions for ideological purposes (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
September 27, 2023

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