Pride Champion Index: Fewer Companies Participating, Yet Engagement Is Higher

The Berlin-based Uhlala Group released on Wednesday its latest Pride Champion Index, a study of how companies active in German-speaking regions support queer employees. The list has been published since 2019 — up until last year under the name Pride Index.
The organizers report a largely positive balance: large corporations average 90 percent, a “historic high,” Uhlala said. “Diversity is increasingly understood here as a component of governance, leadership, and risk management.” Small and medium-sized enterprises reached 87 percent, while public institutions were just behind at 85 percent. In industry comparisons, insurance firms led with about 99 percent, while the legal sector trailed at 72 percent.
“2025 is the year when it becomes clear which organizations not only articulate their values but also quantify them,” said Stuart Bruce Cameron, founder of the Uhlala Group. “Participation in the Pride Champion Audit isn’t a PR project but a conscious choice for accountability. In times of political polarization, it reveals who truly takes a stand.”

– w –

A minor sour note: this time only 46 companies and institutions participated in the index. Last year there were 54, the year before more than 70. Still, the participating firms demonstrated more commitment than ever before. Among those achieving a perfect score were Bayer, the Leverkusen-based chemical giant, the Cologne-based supermarket Rewe, and the Berlin-based insurer Allianz.
The index is meant to serve as a compass for queer people seeking employers who foster a diversity-sensitive and appreciative workplace culture. It also aims to highlight where action is most urgently needed.