Netflix Lost its Inclusion on the Corporate Equity Index

Netflix lost its inclusion on the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Corporate Equality Index due to its airing of Dave Chappelle’s controversial special The Closer. This was the first time in five years that the streamer platform did not appear on the list—which recognizes companies that are the “Best Places to Work” for LGBTQ people. 

In October 2021, a group of Netflix employees staged a virtual walk-out in protest of Chappelle’s controversial comedy special The Closer, which was released on the streaming platform that same month. Chappelle has been criticized as being transphobic and potentially harmful to the LGBTQ community. 

In the comedy special, Chappelle mockingly refers to transgender people and sides with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling by identifying as “team TERF,” a term that means “trans-exclusionary radical feminist” and excludes trans women as women. Chappelle goes on to say “gender is a fact,” and also takes jabs at lesbian and gay people, as well as the #MeToo movement, as stated by The Boston Globe. 

“Given the harm experienced by transgender workers at Netflix as a result of the company’s handling of the release of The Closer, HRC has suspended Netflix’s Corporate Equality Index score and will not be rewarding it with a ‘Best Places to Work’ distinction in the 2022 CEI,” the report from HRC says. 

In a statement, Netflix say they “respectfully disagree with HRC’s decision” to exclude them from the report. “While we have more work to do, we’ve made real strides on inclusion, including for our LGBTQ+ colleagues,” says a Netflix spokesperson. 

“We offer comprehensive transgender and nonbinary-inclusive care in our U.S. health plans as well as adoption, surrogacy, and parental leave for same-sex couples. And we’ve also worked hard to increase representation on screen.” 

HRC and Netflix are having conversations about the next steps the company could take to demonstrate the values of workplace equality and inclusion and to improve trust among their employees and the public.