(NewsNation) — Hardware giant Lowe’s has abolished some of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
It follows after efforts from film director and conservative advocate Robby Starbuck’s challenge to Lowe’s to alter the framework.
Lowe’s seemed to be listening, emailing Starbuck a memo wherein the hardware chain said it was ending its participation in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Quality Index (CQI), among other initiatives.
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According to the HRC website, its CQI is a ranking mechanism to track companies’ “policies, practices, and benefits” relating to those of an LGBT persuasion.
Starbuck said Lowe’s would stop donating to “pride events or other divisive events” and end the existence of multiple employee resource groups (ERG) – distinguished by one’s race, gender, or sexuality preference – in favor of a singular ERG.
Lowe’s is yet to respond to NewsNation’s request for comment. They are among several companies that have altered or disbanded their DEI policies and departments following the Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action on June 29, 2023.
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John Deere scaled back its DEI operations, Tractor Supply and the University of Kentucky abolished its departments, while DEI initiatives have been banned in higher education in Texas since 2023.
Starbuck, who is Cuban American, has long argued DEI programs or hiring preferences based on race and gender are themselves discriminatory.
The filmmaker is on a crusade to see all companies remove the policy and has urged those who support his cause to expose a “woke workplace” via EliminateDEI@protonmail.com.
