A record 366 businesses this year earned a top score in the Corporate Equality Index, which judges their stance on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality, the Human Rights Campaign announced.

The civil rights organization awarded its "100 percent" rating to companies ranging from giant Apple to startup Yelp; other names among the top companies included American Airlines, Citi, General Motors, SC Johnson, Starbucks and Unilever.

Leading companies and law firms are also "increasingly setting the standard for transgender inclusion in the workplace," HRC pointed out.

"When it comes to LGBT equality, Corporate America is a leader, not a follower," the group's president, Chad Griffin, said in a statement. "At every turn, from advocating for marriage equality to providing vital support for transgender employees, this country's leading companies have asked, 'What more can we do?' And they've worked tirelessly to achieve new progress. That kind of leadership changes countless lives around this country, and sets an important example to other companies around the globe."

Corporations across the United States feted their own rankings in press releases.

JetBlue said it was "proud" it was one of the companies earning the top score in the index.

"In addition to supporting JetPride, an LGBT peer resource group for its crewmembers, JetBlue supports an array of nonprofit groups focused on LGBT equality," the airline noted.

Hotel chain Marriott was equally delighted.

"In addition to recognizing (our) superior commitment to inclusive human resource policies, the perfect CEI rating also acknowledges the company's public commitment to advancing LGBT equality," it said in a statement.

Retail giant Walmart, meanwhile, was able to up its score by 10, to 90, Bloomberg reported.

"(It) improved its treatment of gay and lesbian employees over the past year, nudging the retail giant closer to companies such as Apple and Goldman Sachs," the business channel detailed.

HRC's Corporate Equality Index measures LGBT workplace inclusion considering factors such as non-discrimination policies, employment benefits, organizational competency and accountability around LGBT diversity and inclusion, public commitment to LGBT equality and responsible citizenship.

Much progress has been made in recent years, Griffin said. Still, the HRC president cautioned that "LGBT workers still face major obstacles."

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