Merck & Co. scored a 100 on the 2023 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. By complying with the HRC’s controversial demands, Merck increases the risk of dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. The company covers transgender-related medical costs for its employees and their children and provides specific sexual orientation and gender identity-based benefits. It also uses sex and gender ideology criteria in employee recruitment, vendor selection, marketing, and philanthropic support. Merck forces employees to undergo multiple ideological trainings and uses its reputation, corporate funds, and political influence to support controversial sex and gender ideologies, organizations, and legislation. Merck is a signatory of the Gender & Diversity KPI Alliance and its CEO and President signed Catalyst's Champions for Change pledge. The company is part of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination. Merck indirectly funds Planned Parenthood and supports the Equality Act. The company pledged $20 million to BLM and related causes. Merck discriminates against religious organizations in its charitable giving and supports LGBTQ causes and organizations. The company opposed various state and local legislation intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces. Merck is a bronze partner of PFLAG and a member of the MCCA, indicating its focus on recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees based on race. The company has donated to the Equality PAC. For these reasons, Merck receives a High Risk rating.