BofA, Wells get top marks in LGBT equality measure

Both Bank of America and Wells Fargo earned top marks in a measure of workplace equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees, the Human Rights Campaign said Thursday.

The gay rights advocacy group puts together an annual "Corporate Equality Index" based on 40 policies or practices, including same-sex domestic partner benefits, gender-identity non-discrimination policies and transgender-inclusive health care coverage. The standards grow stricter every year, the HRC said.

This year's study rated 850 companies, including the entire Fortune 500. Bank of America and Wells Fargo received 100 percent scores, part of a total of 190 companies receiving the highest score. The banking and finance industry in general had high marks.

"Corporate America is leading the charge for equality in the workplace," HRC President Joe Solmonese said in a news release. "They understand that LGBT-inclusive workplace policies are the right thing to do and good business practices."