US home improvement retailer Lowe’s latest to end diversity policies Reuters

(Reuters) – Retailer Lowe’s (NYSE: ) has dropped some of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, becoming the latest U.S. firm to change such policies aimed at boosting racial and ethnic representation.

Lowe’s will no longer participate in surveys for the Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group that supports transgender rights, and is also combining its various business resource groups that represent diverse employees into one umbrella organization, an obtained internal memo shows Monday by Reuters.

The company will not sponsor or participate in community events such as parades, festivals or fairs and may also make additional policy changes over time, according to the memo, which was confirmed by a company spokesperson.

Over the past few years, U.S. companies, including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: ) , have faced a greater conservative backlash against diversity initiatives, which has multiplied after widespread protests following the police killings of George Floyd and of other black Americans in 2020.

The protests highlighted racial and gender disparities in corporate leadership.

Some companies have received public shareholder letters since 2021 alleging that their DEI programs constitute illegal discrimination and a breach of directors’ duties to investors.

Groups opposing diversity policies were also boosted by the June 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action in university admissions decisions.

Lowe’s began reviewing its diversity and inclusion programs around the same time, the memo said.