Mars Inc.

Mars 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 (1)(2). Mars was a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which demonetized and suppressed content that it deemed to spread “hate speech” or “misinformation”, discuss “debated social issues in a negative or partisan context”, or “vilif[y]” individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity. These arbitrary guidelines were used to censor mainstream perspectives online (3)(4)(5). However, the company has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (6).

Mars’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2). Mars does not discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (3)(4).

Mars’s 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 (1)(2). In April 2023 America First Legal filed a letter with the EEOC requesting a civil rights investigation into Mars over discriminatory practices in hiring (3)(4). The company provides unconscious bias programs for its employees (5). Mars does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (6)(7).

Mars’s 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). Mars has signed open letters opposing “bathroom bills” and a senior executive co-authored an op-ed opposing a minimum age for gender transition surgeries (3)(4). The company 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 (5). Mars opposed various state and local legislation intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces (6)(7). The company opposed legislation in Iowa intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces (8). Mars opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which would prohibit teaching gender identity and sexual orientation to kids in K-3rd grade (9). The company’s Twitter account also criticized then-President Trump’s views on immigration (10). M&M released a new “female-only” wrapper featuring only “female” M&M characters including new lesbian M&Ms and a “plus-size” character to represent body positivity (11). Skittles has promoted LBGTQ and BLM messaging and causes through its promotions, products, and fundraisers (12). CEO Poul Weihrauch is a member of the Business Roundtable, which supports stakeholder capitalism over traditional shareholder obligations (13). Mars’ former CEO, Grant Reid, 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 (16)(17). The company was a contributing member of GARM’s Action Guide to Reduce Media Greenhouse Gas Emissions and The Global Media Sustainability Framework which provides an action plan for media companies to transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions (18)(19).

Mars’s 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). Mars was a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (3)(4)(5). The company has funded GLAAD and other LGBTQ advocacy groups (6). Mars is a copper sponsor of Out & Equal and a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (7)(8). Kind bars, a subsidiary of Mars, has a partnership with popular transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney and Skittles has promoted LBGTQ and BLM messaging and causes through its promotions, products, and fundraisers (9)(10)(11). Mars sponsored the following 2x events in 2025: WorldPride 2025, Cincinnati Pride (12)(13). Tru Fru, a subsidiary of Mars, sponsored Utah Pride in 2025 (14). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (15).

Mars’s 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). Mars does not operate a PAC at this time but has lobbied for the Equality Act (3)(4)(5).