Michaels

Michaels received a score of 85 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). The company integrates ESG into its business practices. From its Dependable Governance page: “Suppliers are evaluated through rigorous quality assessments, onsite visits, and third-party social accountability audits [which includes] ensuring that third parties meet ESG standards” (3)(4). However, the company has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (5).

Michaels’ HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2). The company does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations based on views or beliefs (3).

Michaels’ 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 (1)(2). Michaels does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (3).

Michaels’ 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). Michaels partnered with the Open to All Pride Campaign and promotes its LGBTQ Employee Resource Group (3)(4). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its Dependable
Governance page: “Our ESG program starts at the highest level with responsibility and oversight of ESG risks and strategy being shared among each board member and committee to leverage all of the expertise available to us” (5).

Michaels’ 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). Michaels is a bronze partner of PFLAG, an LGBTQ+ activist group that promotes books for children with sexually explicit and gender fluid content and advocates against laws that inform parents of their child’s gender dysphoria or prevent unapproved transgender medical treatments for minors (3)(4)(5). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (6).

Michaels’ 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). Michaels does not operate a PAC at this time and has not reported on its lobbying (3)(4)(5).