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This year, 46 companies from the Garden State were ranked by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for their LGBTQ workplace policies, with half of them netting a perfect score.

Twenty-three companies from New Jersey earned 100 points on the HRC 2020 Corporate Equality Index released Tuesday, marking a slight uptick from the 19 that earned a perfect score in the 2019 report. On average, New Jersey companies earned an 86 percent score in 2020.

“These companies know that protecting their LGBTQ employees and customers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do — it is also the best business decision,” said HRC President Alphonso David in a prepared statement.

In the Garden State, 31 companies earned 90 points or above in the 2020 report and 38 earned 80 points or higher.

“As the business voice of the LGBT community, the NGLCC congratulates the nearly 50 New Jersey-based corporations, many of which are now or are working to be NGLCC corporate partners, for earning top marks on the 2020 HRC Corporate Equality Index,” National LGBT Chamber of Commerce co-Founder and President Justin Nelson said in a statement to NJBIZ. “The New Jersey state motto is ‘Liberty and Prosperity,’ two values at the heart of these corporations and their longstanding commitment to LGBT inclusion in the workplace and in the supply chain. LGBT-inclusive Supplier Diversity programs are now a requirement on the HRC CEI, reflecting a best practice to include every community in the private sector contracts.”

The HRC said the CEI rates companies on detailed criteria in four categories: non-discrimination policies; employment benefits; supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility, including public commitment to LGBTQ equality; and responsible citizenship.

In the 2020 report, 87 percent of CEI-rated businesses with supplier diversity programs specifically included LGBTQ-owned enterprises. The NJLCC started certifying LGBTQ-owned small businesses in 2002.

“New Jersey’s Legislature is currently considering a bill that would welcome LGBT-, disability-, and veteran-owned businesses in statewide contracts and economic development programs as many city and state governments currently do,” Nelson added. “Discrimination and lack of inclusion are not only morally wrong; they are antithetical to the pro-business climate for which New Jersey is renowned. With an equal seat at the table, diverse business owners will continue to create jobs and grow the Garden State economy and encourage more corporations to bring their business to New Jersey.”

Out of the 1,059 total companies ranked for 2020, more than 680 – representing 12.4 million employees in the U.S., according to HRC – earned a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality for garnering a perfect score. The full 2020 report is available here.