The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's eighth annual Corporate Equality Index shows an unprecedented 305 major U.S. businesses earned the top rating of 100 percent, up from 260 last year - despite the economic downturn. Detailed information on each employer rated is included in the report and on our employer database under "Employers with Corporate Equality Index rating."
Of course corporate equality cannot substitute for legal and constitutional rights, but it shouldn't be underestimated, either. Workplace desegregation probably did more to break down racial and ethnic bigotry than any single change in the US. And those adults that now work in normally integrated workplaces raise families, and the lessons they learn continue. The same is true for workplaces where people don't have to pretend their same-sex partners are roommates or worry about being fired for being gay, where they can access all the benefits that their non-gay colleagues can.
Of course, some people are still trying to swim against the tide of freedom, by attempting boycotts of companies that don't discriminate against GLBT employees, and that actively market to a gay consumers. Ed Brayton from Science Blogs looks at how these boycotts are going, and notices it's gonna be mighty slim pickin's for them holy rollin' shoppers. An excerpt:
You can't fly on American Airlines or US Airways, both of which scored a perfect 100. You might also want to avoid United, Southwest, Delta, Northwest, Continental and JetBlue; all scored above 80. In fact, you can't even fly on Sarah Palin's Alaska Airlines, who got a perfect score this year. Who can you fly? Well, you could try Nepal Airlines, the faith-based airline that sacrifices goats to appease God. On second thought, that won't work either. Nepal Airlines has two planes, both of them made by Boeing; Boeing got a perfect 100 too. Go Greyhound!
In fact, you might want to start boycotting the military too. Most of the major defense contractors scored very well. Honeywell, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman all scored a perfect 100. Lockheed got an 85. Who would have guessed that our good ol' red-blooded and (presumably) straight American fighting men are using weapons that advance the gay agenda? If you don't ask, we won't tell.
Shopping could be a problem too. You can't shop at Abercrombie and Fitch, The Gap, JC Penney's, Macy's, or Nordstroms. Can't wear Levis jeans or Nike shoes. And even that staple of middle American fashion, LL Bean, scored a 79. Ah well, there's always K-Mart. And in a pinch, you can always wear a plain white sheet.
Then again, it's going to be difficult to get to the mall anyway since cars are pretty much out entirely. Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota, Subaru and Volkswagon all scored a perfect 100. You could try Volvo, but that's a Swedish company and you know how those morally bankrupt Scandinavians like to treat gay people like human beings. It may be horse and buggy time.
Finances are gonna be damn near impossible. Want to find a hetero-normative mortgage? Good luck. Bank of America, Citigroup, Countrywide, JP Morgan Chase, Fannie Mae, Indy Mac, Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo all scored 100. Need a morally upstanding credit card? Avoid American Express, Mastercard and Visa; all got perfect scores. Can't do Discover either, since they're owned by Morgan Stanley and damn if they didn't get a 100 as well.
Banking in general is gonna be a real problem for the Righteous, and you might as well give up on any thought of investing your money or saving for retirement. ...
It's an excellent piece, really worth reading.
Many thanks to James for sending. I have some lengthy posts coming up... eventually.
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