Gap Inc.

Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta
California
Retailing

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Gap Inc. vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination. 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. The company indirectly supports Planned Parenthood and GenderCool, an LGBTQ organization. GAP regularly uses its corporate reputation to advocate for ideological causes and organizations. For these reasons, Gap Inc. receives a High 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

Gap has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefsThe company received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index. Among other requirements, this means Gap has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Gap does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. Despite saying that the company will not match gifts to religious organizations, Gap will donate to religious charities (including programs run by a house of worship) that “perform a social service” (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Gap 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

Gap has signed open letters in support of the Equality Act and supporting transgender participation in youth sports (1)(2). It has also embraced the Black Lives Matter movement, including launching a billboard in Times Square in June 2020 in the wake of the events surrounding George Floyd (3). Gap opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibits teaching gender identity and sexual orientation in schools to kids in K-3rd grade (4). Gap partnered with artists to create a Pride Month collection and has a partnership with UN Free & Equal (5). Gap Inc’s CEO Art Peck is a signatory to CEOs For Gun Safety (6).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Gap indirectly supports Planned Parenthood through third parties (1). Gap 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 (2)(3). Gap donated $50,000 to the GenderCool, an LGBTQ organization (4). Gap and its subsidiary Banana Republic pledged a combined $550,000 to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (5)(6)(7). Gap signed the Fifteen Percent Pledge and “committed to dedicate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands” (8)(9). Gap Inc. has also donated around $500,000 to UN Free & Equal, which promotes LGBTQ causes (10).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Gap has not used its PAC donations for ideological purposes (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 5, 2023

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