Human rights group evaluates Kansas City area companies for non-discrimination

The Human Rights Campaign, a national advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, gave some Kansas City area employers its highest rating for LGBT inclusion and equality in the workplace.

Among employers based in the Kansas City area, top scores for LGBT inclusion on the 2015 list went to AMC Entertainment Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp., and Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP.

The ratings are based on surveys that, among other topics, ask if the organizations have policy statements that specifically ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Questions also ask about employee benefits and whether they’re offered to same-sex spouses or domestic partners.

Other major Kansas City-based employers with high rankings included in the 2015 report, accessible at www.hrc.org/cei, were Hallmark Cards Inc.; Cerner Corp.; Husch Blackwell LLP; Stinson Leonard Street LLP, and Polsinelli PC. Some of the report’s lower rankings went to H&R Block Inc. and YRC Worldwide Inc.

Diane Stafford/The Star

This story was originally published December 8, 2014 at 11:31 AM with the headline "Human rights group evaluates Kansas City area companies for non-discrimination."