aTypical Joe: a gay New Yorker living in the rural South
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Vanguard votes for nondiscrimination at Exxon
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) One of the nation’s largest mutual funds says it will vote its shares in ExxonMobil in support of adding sexuality to the company’s nondiscrimination policy.
The Vanguard Group holds 149 million shares in ExxonMobil, making it the fourth-largest institutional shareholder.
ExxonMobil is the only U.S. company that has ever rescinded a non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation.
The provision had been available to workers at Mobil. But, in December 1999 Mobil merged with Exxon and under Exxon’s direction the policy was abandoned. At the same time, it closed Mobil’s domestic partner benefits program to any more employees.
ExxonMobil is also one of only 40 Fortune 500 companies that do not provide nondiscrimination protection for gay and lesbian employees.
Let’s compare that last statistic - “only 40 Fortune 500 companies do not provide nondiscrimination protection” - to states with laws or constitutional amendments prohibiting same-sex marriage - 45 out 50.
Is it any wonder I talk up the notion of the corporate state?
Via Gay Orbit.
