Lowe’s Announces End of Several DEI Policies in Internal Memo: Report

Home improvement chain Lowe’s is reportedly set to drop its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

The retail chain is the latest major company to tweak its DEI policies, according to an internal memo reported by Reuters.

Lowe’s is reportedly ending its participation in surveys for the Human Rights Campaign, one of the nation’s largest and most progressive nonprofits.

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The Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index is an annual survey and report that purports to measure “policies, practices, and benefits related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) employees.”

The Human Rights Campaign blamed Lowe’s decision to end their participation in the Corporate Equality Index on Robbie Starbuck, a conservative activist focused on confronting big corporations with internal policies he calls “very woke.”

“Robbie Starbuck is so extreme that the Tennessee Republican Party threw him off the ballot. Companies shouldn’t be giving in to some random guy who has no business experience, and he’s so extreme that the Republican Party has abandoned him,” HRC’s Senior Vice President of Programs, Research and Training Orlando Gonzalez told Fox Business.

Starbuck has produced several videos posted to social media purporting to document his communications with Lowe before the policy shift.

“Rapid, short-sighted decisions that go against safe, inclusive workplaces will create a snowball effect of long-term negative consequences for businesses, alienating them from top talent, alienating LGBTQ+ and other consumers, and impacting companies’ bottom lines,” Gonzalez continued. “Nearly 30% of Gen Z identifies as LGBTQ+ and the community has $1.4 trillion in spending power. Reversing these principles undermines consumer trust and employee success.”

Lowe’s is also reportedly changing its internal policy to stop sponsoring or supporting parades or festivals.

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Attendees at the Democratic National Convention wave a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) flag and cheer as HRC President Kelly Robinson speaks on stage at the United Center in Chicago. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images/Getty Images)

The company has supported human rights campaigning for years, sometimes citing the progressive advocacy group’s “equality” ratings in the company’s media.

“Lowe’s has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign,” the company bragged on social media in 2019. “We’re proud of it. Happy Pride Month!”

Lowe’s has previously sponsored regional stores’ participation in local Pride parades and the home improvement retail chain has shown unconditional support for LGBT initiatives in the past.

Customers shop at a Lowe’s home improvement store in Brooklyn, New York City. An internal memo reportedly announced the end of several diversity, equity and inclusion programs, as well as modifications to existing initiatives. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images/Getty Images)

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The extent and ramifications of the company policy changes have yet to be seen, but they appear to be part of a larger trend of companies feeling free to shed the burden of DEI initiatives.

Tractor Supply, John Deere, and other major companies have backed away from progressive messaging and DEI-focused policies in recent months.

Fox Business reached out to Lowe’s for comment but did not receive a response.