LGBT Equality

Our Stance:

Ben & Jerry’s has a long and proud history of commitment to social justice, including LGBT rights and marriage equality. This commitment is grounded in our company’s core values, which include a deep respect for all people and an unshakable belief that everyone deserves full and equal civil rights.

Love Wins:

With the Supreme Court's long-awaited decision to recognize marriage equality as a national right, 2015 is a historic year in the LGBT-equality movement.

It’s a victory that’s been more than four decades in the making, a victory that only a short time ago seemed anything but certain. As a result, the spontaneous celebrations that erupted around the country afterward overflowed with pure joy, giddy excitement, and a palpable sense of relief.

When love wins, we all win.

We've Still Got Work To Do:

While the marriage equality decision is groundbreaking, it’s not the end of the journey for LGBT equality. There’s more to be done, and we’re certainly not done yet! LGBT folks still face discrimination in housing, employment, and health care. Thirty-one states have no laws protecting the LGBT community from discrimination. And the statistics around violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity are startling and sobering. So we’re not hanging up our rainbow-colored activist hats yet, and neither should you. There’s more work to be done to ensure safety and equality for everyone, regardless of who they are or whom they love.

Here's How You Can Act:

With record support for LGBT rights across the US, there’s never been a better time to push for full equality.

• Support legislation to end discrimination, such as the Equality Act
• Support the Human Rights Campaign’s initiatives for equality
• Start conversations, sign petitions, and show your support

How We’ve Supported the Movement:

Way back in 1989, Ben & Jerry's was the first major employer in Vermont to offer health insurance to domestic partners of employees, including same-sex couples. It didn't feel like a revolutionary gesture at the time—no, we just knew it was the right and fair thing to do. Here are a few other ways we have supported LGBT rights over the years:

1996: Our Foundation awarded grants to PFLAG (Parents, Friends, and Family of Lesbians and Gays) organizations

1999: We actively supported Vermont’s groundbreaking civil-unions legislation

2001: We supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

2009: We celebrated gay marriage in Vermont the best way we know how—we turned Chubby Hubby into Hubby Hubby

2010: We hosted a same-sex wedding at our DC Scoop Shop—how sweet it was!

2012: We partnered with Stonewall to support marriage equality in UK with an honorary flavor: Apple-y Ever After

2013: We rallied support for marriage equality in Australia with the I Dough, I Dough flavor, and in Ireland with EngageMint Party

2013: We worked with the band FUN. and the Ally Coalition to raise awareness about the challenges to full LGBT equality

2014: With 30 other businesses, we signed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court stating our support for creating a nationwide state-level standard for recognizing same-sex marriages

2014: We participated for the first time in the Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade

2015: We joined more than 340 businesses in filing an amicus brief to the Supreme Court that makes the businesses’ case for marriage equality for all

2015: We supported the ‘Say Yes!’ campaign in Ireland, traveling the country and hosting Yestivals leading up to the remarkable and historic vote on May 22nd in support of marriage equality

2015: Along with so many others around the country and the world, on June 26th we celebrated the Supreme Court's momentous decision on marriage equality. To honor this victory, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough was renamed I Dough, I Dough for the summer

Who's Keeping Score?

HRC is! As America’s leading civil rights organization, HRC has more than 1.5 million members actively advocating for LGBT equality. Its 2015 Corporate Equality Index Rating ranks businesses from various industries on how well they’re doing when it comes to supporting LGBT rights in the workplace. We're proud to have tallied a perfect 100/100 on HRC's 2015 Corporate Equality Index Rating.