ExxonMobil shareholders voted not to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their formal corporate equal opportunity employment statement. As a matter of tradition ExxonMobil is notorious for discriminatory practices against LGBT employees. In states like Texas where LGBT employees are not protected by state law it is still legal to fire someone for being gay or transgender. By refusing to create their own corporate policy against discriminatory practices, ExxonMobil is endorsing those practices.
The Human Rights Campaign grades fortune 500 companies on their treatment of LGBT employees based on certain criteria. Since the development of the Corporate Equality Index work conditions have improved dramatically at nearly all the Fortune 5oo companies on the list. They are almost unanimously supportive of their employees and protect them from discrimination within the framework and rule system of the corporation.
A total of 423 – 85 percent – of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies and 176 – more than 35 percent – include gender identity, including ExxonMobil competitors BP Corp., Chevron Corp., Dow Chemical, DuPont and Shell Oil.
“While the rest of corporate America recognizes and respects the diversity of their workforce, ExxonMobil continues to resist the most basic protections that should be afforded to all Americans,” said Joe Solmonese, Executive Director of the Human Rights Campaign.
ExxonMobil exemplifies the need for a Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Policy that includes both sexual-orientation and gender identity. Since they are unwilling to protect their employees on their own, the government must do it for them. States that allow their LGBT residents to be fired based on sexual-orientation and gender identity should stand on notice. America will no longer tolerate outright hatred and discrimination.
In the mean time I call on my friends to avoid purchasing ExxonMobil products.
