WASHINGTON- The Human Rights Campaign Foundation unveiled its fourth annual report card today on corporate America's treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, which includes a record 101 companies with a perfect 100 percent score - more than seven times as many since the first report card in 2002.

"Equality now illuminates thousands of factory floors, board rooms and cubicles across America," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. "The enormous growth we've tracked in fair employee policies proves that corporateAmerica is making good on the old adage: what's good for business is good for America."

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's fourth annual report card - theCorporate Equality Index- rates Fortune 500 and other major companies on a scale from zero to 100 percent on seven key indicators of fair treatment for GLBT employees. Indicators include policies prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as well as equal health care benefits.

Among this year's key findings:

"With 101 companies scoring one hundred percent, millions of Americans now have protections they would have only dreamed of a few years ago," said Daryl Herrschaft, director of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Workplace Project and lead author of the report.

While industries like computer manufacturing have had 100 percent scores for years with leaders like IBM, defense giant Raytheon reached 100 percent this year as a first for its industry. In addition, BP and Chevron became the first oil companies to score 100 percent and Dow Chemical became the first in its industry to do so.

"Prudential Financial is proud of the recognition received from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation," said Arthur F. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, a 100 percent company. "Diversity continues to be key to the ongoing success of our company, and we remain committed to ensuring an inclusive and supportive work environment for all people."

In electronics retail, Best Buy offers full protections to GLBT employees, while competitor Radio Shack scores a 29 percent andCircuit Cityholds a 43 percent score.

Corporations shown to be actively working against equality include Emerson Electric with a 29 percent score Entergy with 36 percent Exxon Mobil with 14 percent and Perot Systems with a 14 percent score.

In the financial sector, Citigroup and J.P. Morgan Chase each score 100 percent compared to MBNA that has given money to anti-gay organizations and scores only 43 percent.

"CorporateAmerica knows that treating employees fairly is not just the right thing to do, it's good for the bottom line," added Solmonese.

Starting Sept. 22 inDenver, more than 40 of the companies scoring 100 percent will attend this year's Out & Equal Workplace Summit where for two days they will join more than 850 GLBT employees, straight allies and human resources and diversity professionals who share the same vision of equal treatment in the workplace

The HRC Foundation's Workplace Project not only tracks corporate policies on GLBT issues, but also advocates for equal treatment within corporateAmerica through educational programs and direct advocacy.

Read the report and download other materials.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country.It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.