'Gay-friendly' companies up 41%
Pastor Dale Morgan
'Gay-friendly' companies up 41%*
Marriott, Macy's, Mastercard, Yahoo! join annual list
Posted: September 17, 2007
Macy's, sponsor of the Thanksgiving parade in New York City, joins a
leading homosexual-rights group's annual list of corporations scoring a
perfect 100
As the House prepares to vote on a bill banning discrimination against
homosexuals, another 57 corporations have been added to an annual list
of the nation's "gay-friendly" major businesses, an increase of 41
percent over last year.
For the sixth year, Human Rights Campaign, a homosexual-rights group,
released its Corporate Equality Index of businesses earning a perfect
score of 100.
The score is based on employers' treatment of "gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender" employees. It measures factors such as
non-discrimination policies, diversity training and benefits for
domestic partners and transgender employees.
An unprecedented 195 major corporations received a perfect score,
compared to just 13 companies when the index began in 2002. Also, for
the first time, a majority of rated firms – 58 percent – provide
employment protections on the basis of "gender identity."
"More businesses than ever before have recognized the value of a diverse
and dedicated workforce," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe
Solmonese. "More importantly, these employers understand that
discrimination against GLBT workers will ultimately hurt their ability
to compete in the global marketplace."
Among the companies new to the list this year are Allstate Insurance,
Marriott International, Macy's, Mastercard, Yahoo! and Waste Management Inc.
Meanwhile, Rep. Barney Frank predicts the House will soon approve the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would make it illegal for
employers to make decisions about hiring, firing, promoting or paying an
employee based on "sexual orientation or gender identity." The bill,
which would exempt churches and the military, likely will face a tougher
fight in the Senate, where it would need 60 votes to overcome a
Republican filibuster or presidential veto.
Solmonese maintained the elements of the bill already have been
"overwhelmingly embraced" by U.S. employers.
"It's the right thing to do for our economy and for our country," he said.
HRC noted at least 282 U.S. cities and towns, along with 19 states, have
added workplace protections against discrimination based on "sexual
orientation" in both public and private sector jobs.
In addition, more than 93 local jurisdictions and 11 states have laws
that include protections based on "gender identity."
The Corporate Equality Index this year rated 519 businesses.
One of the newcomers to the list of companies scoring a perfect 100,
Yahoo!, declared its pride at being part of a "pioneering group that has
stepped up to create a more inclusive work environment for today's
diverse employee groups."
Cammie Dunaway, chief marketing officer and executive sponsor of the
LGBT employee group at Yahoo!, also said the company values its "tens of
millions of LGBT consumers around the world and are always looking for
ways to further connect them to the information, passions, and
communities that matter most to them, on our Yahoo! LGBT Pride site and
across our network."
Leading the way on HRC's list is the banking and financial services
industry, with 32 companies scoring 100 percent. This year, there are 30
law firms with the top rating, up from 12 last year.
Among mail and freight delivery companies, United Parcel Service scored
100 while FedEx received a 55, because it does not provide benefits for
domestic partners company-wide, including to married same-sex couples in
Massachusetts.
In the transportation and travel services industry, Travelport – known
for its popular site Orbitz.com – is the first to receive a perfect score.
Other companies receiving a perfect score weighed in.
Sprint Nextel's senior vice president of Human Resources, Sandy Price,
said her company is "working hard to create an inclusive workplace that
ensures all voices and points of view are valued and respected."
Hayward Bell, chief diversity officer for Raytheon Co., said his
company's perfect score "reflects the strides that our company has made
to build a culture that recognizes, respects and leverages individual
and cultural differences. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is
our undeniable pathway to success for individuals and the company – for
everyone, every day and everywhere."
General Motors' vice president for corporate responsibility and
diversity, Rod Gillum, said the automaker's perfect Corporate Equality
Index score is "our way of showing GLBT customers that we support the
community and appreciate their business."
Brian Schipper, senior vice president for Human Resources at Cisco
Systems Inc., said his company appreciates "the work of the HRC for
continuing to provide this important benchmark of corporate policies and
practices."