Our Stories
Major Milestones Reached in Altria’s LGBTQ Journey
For the third year running, the Human Rights Campaign has given Altria a perfect score on its Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The CEI measures workplace policies and practices designed to protect and elevate LGBTQ diversity and inclusion. With our 100% score, we join over 680 organizations designated "Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality".
In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in three cases that will determine whether federal civil rights laws currently protect LGBTQ employees. Altria cared so much about this issue that the company submitted its own amicus brief to the Supreme Court, arguing that LGBTQ employees should be protected. While a group of 200+ other companies submitted a joint brief coordinated by several LGBTQ organizations, Altria was the ONLY company to have submitted a brief on its own.
In January 2020, the Virginia Values Coalition released a letter to Virginia lawmakers calling for comprehensive LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections. As part of this coalition, Altria pledged to support these critical measures.
On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court announced in an historic ruling that Title VII protections apply to employees within the LGBTQ Community. We’re proud of this decision and celebrate this universal support for equality with our LGBTQ colleagues and stakeholders.
