Harley-Davidson latest company to distance itself from DEI – Washington Examiner
Harley-Davidson, the iconic motorcycle manufacturer, has recently distanced itself from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following backlash from conservative activists, particularly Robby Starbuck. Starbuck criticized Harley-Davidson’s commitment to DEI, urging his followers to voice their opposition. In response to the negativity surrounding their policies, Harley-Davidson issued a statement expressing its commitment to listening and emphasized that it has not operated any DEI function since April 2024. The statement clarified that the company does not implement hiring quotas or sponsor diversity spends.
Furthermore, Harley-Davidson is reassessing its affiliations, including its relationship with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a prominent LGBT advocacy group, and has opted out of HRC’s scoring system that rates corporate inclusivity. The HRC responded sharply, accusing Harley-Davidson of succumbing to conservative pressure. Meanwhile, Starbuck took to social media to celebrate the company’s shift as a victory for his movement, highlighting the removal of DEI functions and the end of HRC participation.
Harley-Davidson latest company to distance itself from DEI
Motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson is the latest company to make a U-turn on diversity, equity, and inclusion, citing its commitment to “listening to all members of our community.”
The statement from Harley-Davidson comes after the brand faced pushback online when Robby Starbuck, a conservative activist with over 552,000 followers on X, posted a video online showing how Harley-Davidson is committed to DEI policies. He also encouraged his followers to contact the company to oppose its dedication to diversity initiatives.
On Monday, Harley-Davidson stated it is “saddened by the negativity” over the last few weeks, and chose to issue a response “with clarity, action, and facts.”
“It is critical to our business that we hire and retain the best talent and that all employees feel welcome,” the statement read. “That said, we have not operated a DEI function since April 2024, and we do not have a DEI function today. We do not have hiring quotas and we no longer have supplier diversity spend goals.”
Additionally, the company is reviewing its sponsorships and the organizations it is affiliated with. Among these is the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT advocacy group, with Harley-Davidson no longer partaking in “HRC scoring,” in which the HRC scores a company based on how inclusive it is to LGBT people.
On X, HRC issued a statement condemning Harley-Davidson’s decision, accusing the motorcycle company of deciding to “cave to MAGA bullies.”
Starbuck, meanwhile, took to X to share Harley-Davidson’s statement, calling it “another win for our movement.”
In July, tractor company John Deere stated it would no longer be participating in events or festivals related to “cultural awareness” and that “diversity quotes and pronoun identification” are not and “never have been” part of the company’s policy. The company argued it is “always listening to feedback” from its customers and looking at its policies to prioritize ones “that more closely align our business strategy.”
John Deere’s announcement was made only a few weeks after Tractor Supply announced it would be ditching its DEI roles. Tractor Supply also stated it would no longer submit data to HRC.
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