Guess, Inc.

Guess received a score of 100 on the 2026 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)(3). The company received a score of 100 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 (4)(5). Guess integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2024-2025 ESG Report: “We actively track environmental performance and risks across our supplier network, setting clear expectations
around energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, chemical management, and water stewardship. These criteria are integrated into our supplier onboarding, regular
on-site social compliance audits, and ongoing performance reviews to ensure alignment with GUESS’s sustainability commitments” (6). From its 2024 ESG Interim Report: “By linking ESG performance to annual evaluations and bonus incentives, we foster a culture of accountability and encourage leadership at every level to contribute meaningfully to our sustainability efforts. This integration strengthens our commitment to achieving our ESG targets and aligns both individual and collective efforts” (7). From its 2022-2023 ESG Report: “With our Vice President of Internal Audit and ESG reporting administratively to the Chief Executive Officer, we ensure high level oversight on all ESG-related commitments to drive successful execution and monitoring. With the support of internal stakeholders, this top-down approach helps to ensure deep integration of ESG across our global footprint” (8). The company promotes divisive sex and gender policies. Its Supplier Code of Conduct requires international vendors to include sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination policy (9). However, Guess has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (10).

Guess’ HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2)(3). The company’s HRC 2023-2024 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (4)(5). Guess does not appear to discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (6).

Guess’ HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend at least one, controversial training 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)(3). The company’s HRC 2023-2024 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 (4)(5). Guess requires its employees to take unconscious bias and DEI training (6)(7). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment and hiring. From its 2022-2023 ESG Report: “We revised the language in
our job descriptions to ensure that it’s inclusive, reflects our diverse brand, and emphasizes our commitment to diversity and inclusion” (8). From its 2024 ESG Report: “Our DEI initiatives include unconscious bias training, inclusive hiring practices, and partnerships with community organization” (9). Guess does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (10).

Guess’ HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company potentially 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)(3). The company’s HRC 2023-2024 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 (4)(5). The company supports DEI within its business practices, hosting a DEI Council (6). Guess supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2024-2025 ESG Report: “Diversity and inclusion are core values at GUESS and fundamental to how we conduct business” (7). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2024-2025 ESG Report: “Sustainability—and by extension, strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles—is at the heart of everything we do. It shapes our lives, drives our work, and builds the legacy we’re proud to leave behind” (8).

Guess’ HRC 2026 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, lab monitoring, and mental health benefits. The company also covers at least five of the following services: reconstructive hair removal, cosmetic hair removal, tracheal shave or reduction, facial surgeries, voice modification surgery, voice modification therapy, lipoplasty or filling for body masculinization or feminization, and travel and lodging expenses. Additionally, the company has potentially 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)(3)(4). The company’s HRC 2023-2024 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 (5)(6). Guess is a Champion Tier corporate sponsor of the Trevor Project, an organization that advocates for controversial sex and gender ideology, including “gender transition” drugs and surgeries for minors, through legislation, litigation, advertising, and PR campaigns. The organization also hosts online chatrooms that allow adults to communicate with minors as young as 13 about sexually explicit topics. Adults in these chatrooms have encouraged minors to adopt transgender identities and withhold this information from their parents (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). The company donated $25,000 to the Trevor Project (12)(13). Guess donated the proceeds from its annual Pride Bingo event to the Los Angeles LGBT Center (14)(15). Guess released a Pride Month-themed line of merchandise in partnership with the Trevor Project and regularly supports LGBTQ Pride (16). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (17).

Guess’ HRC 2023-2024 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). The company does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (3)(4)(5).