Casino operators Caesars Entertainment Corp., MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts Ltd. scored high Thursday in a ranking of companies for their support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation in Washington, D.C., issued its annual Corporate Equality Index assessing how corporations treat LGBT employees and how supportive they are of the LGBT community.
The scores are based on returned surveys and cover factors such as whether a company has an inclusive work environment and commitments to the LGBT community through philanthropy and supplier diversity.
The rankings also consider whether equal health care coverage is provided for LGBT employees and their families including domestic partner benefits.
Numerous Fortune 500 companies such as 3M Co., Apple Inc. and UnitedHealthGroup Inc. received perfect 100 percent scores.
Among the nation’s casino operators, three participated in the survey and were ranked: Caesars received a perfect 100 and MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts each received a 90.
The casino operators often use such rankings to recruit employees and to attract LGBT business.
Caesars said in a statement that the company enforces comprehensive non-discrimination policies, provides domestic partner benefits including health care and has benefit coverage for gender reassignment.
The company said it is a large supporter of the LGBT community and “seeks to provide a world-class experience for all of its guests.”
"LGBT guests are treated with the utmost respect and are encouraged to take part in pioneered LGBT events and offerings (gay weddings and commitment ceremonies, honeymoon packages, nightlife and PRIDE events)," Caesars said in its statement.
"Through leading edge diversity initiatives and our valued relationship with this important organization, we look forward to the coming years and plan to continue to lead the way in LGBT workplace equality," Fred Keeton, Caesars vice president of finance, external affairs and chief diversity officer, said in a statement.
Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, said his company too promotes equality in the workplace and the community.
"It is our business imperative to attract and retain the very best employees by ensuring a level playing field for people from all walks of life," Murren said in a statement.
MGM Resorts said that this year it expanded the benefits in its health care program to cover counseling and hormone therapy services for transgender people.
MGM Resorts said it’s a committed member of the Human Rights Campaign and has been an active supporter of The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada.
The company recently pledged $300,000 to the center to support the construction of its new building.
Another Las Vegas company that participated in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation survey was NV Energy, which scored a 70.
In all, 277 Fortune 500 companies participated in the survey.