Harley-Davidson bows to anti-DEI campaign
Harley-Davidson answers DEI critics by announcing policy changes.
Harley-Davidson on Monday responded to the bad publicity it’s received over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that had become the target of conservative activists.
In a posting on the social media platform X, the Milwaukee-based company said that as part of an internal review, it would no longer participate in Human Rights Campaign scoring, a ranking of companies aimed at promoting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer individuals and communities.
Furthermore, employee training will be related to the needs of the business and will be absent of socially motivated content – and that only legally required training has ever been mandatory at the company.
All sponsorship activities will now be centrally approved and managed efforts through the company or the Harley-Davidson Foundation.
“As a consumer brand, we will focus exclusively on growing the sport of motorcycling and retaining our loyal riding community, in addition to the support we already provide to first responders, active military members and veterans,” Harley said.
Conservative activists had called for boycotts of Harley-Davidson, saying the company supported LGBTQ+ initiatives and that employees attended training on how to be an ally to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Similar attacks were launched against John Deere and Tractor Supply in recent months.
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In its posting, Harley said it was, “saddened by the negativity on social media over the last few weeks, designed to divide the Harley-Davidson community.”
“As a company, we take this issue very seriously, and it is our responsibility to respond with clarity, action and facts,” the company said.
“We see it as every leader’s role to ensure we have an employee base that reflects our customers and the geographies in which we operate. It is critical to our business that we hire and retain the best talent and that all employees feel welcome. 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,” Harley said.