EA wins accolade for LGBT working conditions

Infamous gaming giant Electronic Arts has been named one of the best places to work in terms of LGBT equality in the US by the Human Rights Campaign.

The publisher scored 100% in a recent assessment for its commitment to workplace equality. This is awarded by the Human Rights Campaign when a company prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and offers transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage.

To gain the score, companies also have to have an employee-run resource group or diversity council supported by the employers and to engage with the external LGBT community.

EA has been seen to be positively engaging with the LGBT throughout 2013, throwing its weight behind several pride parades including events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and Stockholm and it was the official sponsor of the first GaymerX convention.

EA also even held its own event, Full Spectrum, which brought industry figures together to debate and discuss the issues facing the LGBT community in gaming.

The Human Rights Campaign itself even got some direct support from EA with a portion of the $10.5m raised by the Humble Origin Bundle going to the organisation.

'Our organization has been recognized for providing a workplace that is inclusive and where everyone feels welcome,' said EA head of diversity and inclusion Andre Chambers. 'We look forward to continuing that tradition in 2014.'

In contrast to the Human Rights Campaign's accolades, earlier this year, The Consumerist voted EA as the Worst Company in America for the second time in a row.

EA had allegedly failed to create a product that people wanted and liked, to sell their products at a reasonable price and to support the products they sell. At the time, EA Chief Executive Andrew Wilson said that the award was a wake-up call, 'whether you respect the source or not.'