Posted on 04/26/2006 12:59:56 PM PDT by DBeers
NEW YORK (FORTUNE) - This spring, shareholders at such big companies as ExxonMobil , Ford and American Express are voting on whether gay and lesbian people deserve protection against discrimination in the workplace.
But even as battles over gay rights flare up in the corporate world, there's no doubt about who's winning the war.
More than 80 percent of companies in the Fortune 500 now ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Some 249 of the Fortune 500 offer health and other benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees. That's up from just 28 a decade ago.
Last year, Wal-Mart , America's biggest employer, agreed to support a network for its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) workers, joining such firms as Citigroup , DuPont and IBM . All these trends are moving in one direction - towards more rights for gay and lesbian people.
This is remarkable, given the setbacks that gay rights have taken in the political arena, especially around the issue of gay marriage.
"Corporate America is ahead of government in providing equal treatment for GLBT people because it knows that fairness is good for business," declares Joe Solmonese, president of Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay and lesbian civil rights group.
For the past four years, the Human Rights Campaign has ranked big companies on gay rights issues. It looks at non-discrimination policies, domestic partner benefits, advertising in gay media, philanthropy and support for gay employee groups. This year, 101 companies received the highest possible 100 percent rating - up from 56 last year and 13 when the survey was first done in 2002.
~SNIP~
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
Anyone got a list of the other 20 percent? I'd prefer to do business with companies that have higher moral standards than the other 80 percent.
Who's going to protect me in the workplace when a gay HR director and/or two gay co-workers in my department decide I'm uncool because I'm a "breeder"?
Yeah, I thought so.
Curious, since they have now have "gay pride" weeks etc at these corps can we sue them for discrimination against Hetros? Hey "Gay Activists" you don't want the Govt in your bedrooms? Fine, keep your bedrooms out of our Govt and Business lives
"there's no doubt about who's winning the war."
Unfortunately, I can't argue with that.
Good idea. I would much rather give my money to businesses that reject homosexuality as being normal and good.
- Shareholder Proxy Votes cast in default = Corporate America backs "homosexual rights"
- Massachusetts Supreme Court Ruling = Massachusetts backs "homosexual marriage"
- US Supreme Court Ruling; Lawrence = America backs "homosexual sex"
Hmmm -- seems like the tail wagging the dog...
Exactly! Back in the 80's we discovered that they have alliances whereby they have shoved long time venders out the door since the salesperson is not gay!!! It has expanded greatly since then I am sure.
No, it knows that compliance is cheaper than paying off lawsuits, especially when the government invariably sides with the grievance cartels.
How can 2-3% of the population do this much damage to the rest of America's morals, mores and way of life? Sounds like they're more like 25% of the population, with the power they weild.
LOL -take a close look at the left -more like 30-40%. The left is a big tent with all flavors including the 2-3 percenters represented -a coalition of the morally relative, morally devoid and immoral...
Here's a couple of Exxon VP's celebrating Q Day at the office, a day when all employees are encouraged to get "outside the box" so to speak.
Good idea. I would much rather give my money to businesses that reject homosexuality as being normal and good.
Very few companies reject homosexuality as being normal and good I am afraid.
How do these companies verifiy someone is gay, and that their stated "partner" is actually a "partner"?
And...are heteros who live together but aren't married making any noise about the discrimination to their own relationships (or rather, to the lack of benefits)?
Exxon is one of only a handful of companies that actually does NOT support the homo agenda. Try again
Buy Exxon!!!!!!!
Thanks for pointing that out. Glad to see we have an expert on the "homo agenda" here to keep us straight (wink, wink). (:^*)
I remember what you're talking about referred to as "The Lavender Mafia."
I could probably be fired or sued for saying that.
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