Posted on 11/19/2011 2:21:42 PM PST by Graybeard58
WASHINGTON (BP) -- Led by such American staples as AT&T, Kellogg and Coca-Cola, a record number of businesses -- 337 in all -- achieved a perfect score in 2011 for their policies affirming homosexuality.
That's according to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay organization, which launched its Corporate Equality Index in 2002, when only 13 businesses received a perfect score. By 2006 it had grown to 138, and last year it was at 305.
Released each fall, the list shows the challenge that pro-family groups and citizens face when attempting to spend their money only at businesses that affirm their values. For instance, soft drink fans can't simply avoid Coca-Cola, because Pepsi also made the perfect score list.
To get a perfect score of 100, companies had to meet six standards, including: 1) offering diversity training covering sexual orientation and gender identity, 2) having a non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation and gender identity, 3) providing domestic partner health insurance benefits, and 4) offering at least one insurance benefit for employees wanting to change their sex. Gender identity is a category that includes cross dressers and, when fully implemented, allows for men to use women's restrooms, and vice versa.
"In nine years, the CEI [Corporate Equality Index] has helped lead a sea-change in workplaces across the country," Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, wrote in the report.
Significantly, the large majority of companies with a perfect score voluntarily complete the survey on an annual basis and consider it a goal to make the list, HRC says. Some companies tout the score with their own press releases.
Next year, the qualifications will become more comprehensive, making it harder to make the list. But that also could lead to businesses falling in line -- which could further normalize homosexuality. In order to achieve a perfect score in 2012, businesses either will have to advertise in gay media, financially support at least one gay organization or event, or publicly support laws affirming homosexuality.
Even Cracker Barrel -- the southern-styled restaurant with the porch and rocking chairs -- was highlighted in the report for improving its score from 15 to 55. It did so, in part, by offering sexual orientation diversity training for employees. It also donated money to the Tennessee Equality Project, a gay group.
Land O'Lakes, Kellogg and Hershey achieved perfect scores this year for the first time, joining a who's who of large companies in that category. Among airlines with perfect scores were Delta, U.S. Airways, JetBlue and Continental. (Southwest scored 95.) Car manufacturers were represented by Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen. Among electronic and computer companies were Apple, Cisco, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lexmark and Microsoft.
Home Depot, which has been targeted by some conservative groups for its policies affirming homosexuality, scored an 85. Its competitor, Lowe's, made a 30.
Food, beverage and grocery companies with perfect scores included Food Lion, Sara Lee, Campbell's Soup and Starbucks. (McDonald's scored 85, Kroger 75.) Among freight services, UPS scored a 100, with FedEx making an 80.
The list of businesses with perfect scores even included greeting card companies (Hallmark) and toy manufacturers (Mattel).
The nation's largest company, Wal-Mart, scored a 40.
The complete list is available at HRC.org/CEI. HRC uses it each year to put together a holiday "buyers guide" for its constituents.
A good boycott list. IMO.
Don't believe most of the bilge that's disseminated by this anarchist group.
“Record number of businesses rated gay friendly”
A) I’d settle for gay “indifferent.”
B) My first thought was “boycott” but how do you do that when there are so many? At some point you just have to “go Galt” and let the chips fall.
The Current FReepathon Pays For The Current Quarters Expenses?
And some folks are just facing that future with a big ol' smile on their face.
More places where you can work ping.
I just closed my Wells Fargo account today. When the account manager asked why, I gave her an earful. I know the folks at the local branches are just trying to make a living, and I expressed as much sympathy to her, but the organization is corrupt to its core. She expressed sincere shock at most of what I had to tell her, especially regarding Wells Fargo’s enmity toward the Boy Scouts.
Gay friendly actually means gay terrified. These companies without a doubt have had closed door meetings with their lawyers and have concluded that presenting an outward appearance of gay tolerance is the best way to avoid a costly lawsuit. That’s it, period, in a nutshell.
I hear you. The pandering to the Perverted 2% is astounding.
As a manager of a large mid size corp, I have never been contacted by these people.
We still work by the old don't ask don't tell rules. It works.
You have to wonder why these companies are scared of a handful of homos but not scared of the masses of faithful. Maybe it’s time the latter did some scaring of their own.
What about people who want to change their species? What if someone feels as though they are a cat trapped in a human's body?
It seems this rating is tran-species phobic.
We don’t like Wells Fargo either....but have NO idea of how they have shown hatred for the Boy Scouts...
Please share.
Where is Penn State on the list?
I saw a lot of figures scanning that article, but I didn’t see a single 69.
..and what about people who are trans-divinity? Maybe they feel they are a god trapped in a human’s body? What if all this war on obesity is actually a war on trans-divinity, specifically those who feel like they are a buddha?
Corporations that dedicate large amounts of resources to “diversity” I have found to also have the worst customer service, to the point of being “work ethic free zones”. I just fired AT&T this week for failure to address an internet problem (business account). AT&T did not really care, and lost not only the internet account, but also the phone account. Apparently AT&T’s priority is appeasing the layabouts in their corporation who do no work, and use “identity politics” as a blackmail tool. These corporations need to do the marketplace a favor - die. Make room for competitors who have the priority of delivering the product rather than parading how “tolerant” they are.
I can’t believe you went and dragged out old “Underground Panther”....
remember it was a male cat trapped in a woman’s body, so get that right. She was trans-sexual & trans-species.
And a flaming insane person.
go figure.
Home Depot funds and sponsors gay pride parades, including one led by a child. Pedo-pride parades?
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