High-level officials in the Trump campaign report that Trump’s texting campaign was temporarily paused for a 5 day period during his 2020 presidential run (1). Verizon claims that the cessation of service was the result of a third-party decision to ensure the campaign met spam/privacy criteria for the texts, while the Trump campaign argues it was unnecessary and politically motivated. Verizon terminated its relationship with conservative OANN in 2022 (2). Verizon is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which aims to demonetize advertisements and suppress content that “vilifies” individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity, discusses “debated social issues in a negative or partisan context,” or spreads “hate speech” (3)(4)(5). The company received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (6)(7). Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies.

Verizon does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving (1). However, its corporate grants do allow for the company to exclude religious organizations unless the donations benefit the community at large (2).

Verizon does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1)(2).

Verizon advocates for the Equality Act and Transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports (1)(2). Verizon spoke out against voting integrity laws in multiple conservative states (3). Verizon has 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). Verizon has implemented ESG into its business practices, including required unconscious bias training for all employees, and has a 2035 net-zero pledge (5). Verizon is a signatory of the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge (6). 

Verizon 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). Verizon is a “Titanium” corporate sponsor of the LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAG and donates to the progressive Rainbow PUSH Coalition (3)(4). The company is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (5)(6)(7). In total, Verizon donated over $17 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes, including the National Urban League (8)(9). Verizon has a long history of giving to Planned Parenthood (10). Verizon funds employee travel to obtain an abortion (11). Verizon is a copper sponsor of Out & Equal and a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (12)(13).

Verizon has donated to the Equality PAC (1).