NORTHBROOK, Ill., Nov. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma achieved a perfect score on the 2016 Human Rights Campaign Foundation's (HRC) annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the second consecutive year. The CEI is a national benchmarking tool used to rate companies on policies and practices concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employee equality.

For the last 14 years, HRC has released the CEI Survey as a means for companies to gauge their equality efforts, culture and business practices against others. The survey rates business practices on a 100-point scale and assesses six core areas: human resources, diversity, staffing, counsel/legal, marketing/communications and corporate giving/foundation relations.

"In this 2016 Corporate Equality Index, hundreds of major businesses responded to our new standards for workplace equality with exceptional leadership," said HRC Foundation Workplace Equality Program Director Deena Fidas. "Astellas not only meets these standards, it goes above and beyond the call of duty, making commitment to equality a fundamental aspect of its corporate values."

Astellas' benefits cover all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) employees and their spouses/domestic partners. Coverage includes the company's extended benefits program, StarLife Family Care Solutions. This program amplifies traditional child and elder care offerings to embrace the broader needs of employees, their spouses/partners and their families.

This year, through its active LGBTQ employee resource group (ERG), known as TAO (Together as One), the company partnered with the Trevor Project to help advance the shared mission of ending suicide among LGBTQ youth. Following the landmark Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage on June 26, 2015, Astellas showed its support on social media and celebrated with over a million people in downtown Chicago during the LGBTQ Pride Parade. This was the sixth straight year Astellas participated in the parade. The company flew the Pride Flag outside its Americas headquarters throughout the month of June – LGBTQ Pride Month. And, during Pride Week, Astellas hosted Jane and James Clementi of the Tyler Clementi Foundation to deliver a powerful presentation promoting the importance of a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace.

"Astellas is making a strong effort, through its benefits, programming, and advocacy, to become a leading corporate supporter of the LGBTQ community," said Linda Friedman, senior vice president, general counsel, and TAO's executive sponsor. "We will continue to explore new ways to further expand our support of the LGBTQ community in a wide range of different areas."

For more information on Astellas and our culture initiatives, visit www.astellas.us.

About HRC Corporate Equality Index
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

About Astellas
Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us. You can also follow us on Twitter at @AstellasUS.

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