Raymond James

Raymond James fired an employee after he and his wife were featured in a viral video on Twitter confronting a man who was chalking a “BLM” sign in front his house (1)(2). Raymond James 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 (3)(4)(5). The company received a score of 100 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. Raymond James 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 (6)(7).

Raymond James’ HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2)(3). Raymond James’ HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (4)(5). The company likely uses Benevity as its charitable giving platform. Benevity vets charities according to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hate List, which includes mainstream libertarian, conservative, family, and religious advocacy organizations (6)(7)(8).

Raymond James’ 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). Raymond James’ 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. 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). Raymond James requires its associates to complete curriculum on unconscious bias training (6). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (7)(8).

Ramond James’ 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). Raymond James’ 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 (4)(5). Raymond James signed an open letter endorsing the Equality Act, a contentious proposal to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by adding sexual orientation and so-called gender identity as protected categories. The legislation would, among other implications, grant biological men access to women-only spaces such as sports teams and public restrooms, and compel healthcare providers to deliver sex-denying healthcare (6). Raymond James’ CEO Paul Shoukry is a member of the Business Roundtable, which supports stakeholder capitalism over traditional shareholder obligations (7). The company’s CEO, Paul C. Reilly, signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (8)(9).

Raymond James’ 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). Raymond James’ 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 (5)(6). The company was a Gold Corporate Partner of the HRC (7). Raymond James pledged $1.5 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes, including a local Urban League affiliate (8)(9). Raymond James sponsored the following 2x events in 2025: The 50th Annual Memphis Pride Festival & Parade, Ferndale Pride (10)(11). The company sponsored the following Pride events in 2026: Memphis Pride Fest, St. Pete Pride Festival & Parade, and Ferndale Pride (12)(13)(14). The Raymond James donated $752,576 to the SPLC, a controversial organization that claims to combat extremism while labeling mainstream political and religious views as “hateful.” The SPLC has faced a number of controversies over the years, including its April 2026 indictment by a federal grand jury for wire fraud, making false statements to a federally insured bank, and money laundering connected to its alleged funneling of more than $3 million to individuals associated with various violent extremist groups (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23). Raymond James sponsored the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Proxy Preview, the nation’s leading pro-ESG, annual proxy report. This information is relased to inform and equip socially progressive foundations, religious groups, pension funds, and tax-exempt organizations (24)(25)(26)(27). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (28).

Raymond James’ 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). Raymond James does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (3)(4)(5).