Eddie Bauer

Eddie Bauer has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (1). SPARC Group received a score of 90 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 (2)(3). 

Eddie Bauer does not publish charitable giving guidelines (1).

Eddie Bauer’s parent company, SPARC Group’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). Eddie Bauer does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (3).

Eddie Bauer has committed to public advocacy for LGBTQ causes through the promotion of “queer-focused outdoor groups” like LGBTQ Outdoors, Queer Climbing Collective, and OutCycling (1). The company used its reputation to support the LGBTQ movement (2)(3). In 2020, Eddie Bauer used its corporate reputation to support the Black Lives Matter movement (4)(5)(6)(7). Eddie Bauer sells LGBTQ Pride Merchandise (8). Eddie Bauer’s parent company, SPARC Group’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 (9)(10).

Eddie Bauer’s parent company, SPARC Group’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). Eddie Bauer has funded the Colors of Change (3). It also allocated funds for its “One Outside Firm Grant” and “The Venture Out Project” to promote the LGBTQ community (4)(5).

Eddie Bauer’s parent company, SPARC Group’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). Eddie Bauer’s PAC has been defunct since 2008 and the company has not reported on its lobbying (3)(4)(5).