By Dawn Chmielewski
(Reuters) – Disney (DIS) shareholders rejected an investor proposal to withdraw participation within the Human Rights Campaign’s corporate equity index, which rates workplaces on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality.
Disney is among the many highest-profile employers to revise a few of its diversity and inclusion practices because the Trump administration cracks down on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, practices across the federal government and within the private sector.
Walt Disney was amongst 765 corporations to receive an ideal rating in its 2025 rating, acknowledging its efforts to guard against workplace discrimination, to supply inclusive advantages and to supply training to attain an inclusive culture.
As of two:00:16 PM EDT. Market Open.
The shareholder proposal argues that Disney’s involvement in such divisive political issues has alienated segments of the audience, and damaged the corporate’s stock price. It urges investors to support the proposal, which it says provides a possibility for Disney “to maneuver back to neutral.”
Disney urged investors to reject the proposal, saying its board already provides oversight of workforce equity matters.
Just one% of shareholders voted to support this measure, in keeping with the preliminary tally announced Thursday.
Other corporations, including automaker Ford Motor, motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson and residential improvement retailer Lowe’s, have ended their participation within the annual rating of corporations with LGBTQ-friendly work environments.
A lot of U.S. corporations have retreated from DEI in recent months, because the Trump administration stepped up threats to corporations and institutions that engage in those efforts.
Even Disney modified its executive compensation criteria, replacing the target of accelerating diversity and inclusion with an element called “talent strategy,” which evaluates how well leaders advance the corporate’s overall values.
In other matters, Disney’s investors returned all 10 members to its board of directors and retained PricewaterhouseCoopers as the corporate’s independent public accountant. Investors voted for a non-binding resolution, supporting executive compensation.
Shareholders rejected a proposal to publish a report, disclosing how its retirement plan investments protect the plan’s beneficiaries from investments in high-carbon corporations.
Investors voted against a proposal that called on Disney to issue a report, evaluating the way it evaluates the risks related to discriminating against ad buyers or sellers based on their political or religious views.