These are the 10 worst companies for lesbian rights, chosen by queerty.com for their influence, prominence, history of bigotry and the opportunity for you to take action. Not one of them deserves your dime, especially now when we're fighting for our right to marry.
10. A-1 Self Storage Company
Owner Terry Caster and his family donated $693,000 to Yes on 8, making them the 2nd largest individual donors to the measure. Caster defended his donation, telling the San Diego Tribune, "Without solid marriage, you are going to have a sick society."
9. AutoZone Inc.
"America's number one retailer of auto parts and accessories" continues to refuse domestic partner benefits for employees. AutoZone, a Fortune 500 company, also has a history of creating a hostile workforce for women and in 2006,was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
8. Brown-Forman Corp.
Fortune 1000 Company, Brown-Forman distributes Jack Daniels, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodkas, Herradura Tequila, Sonoma-Cutrer Wines, Fetzer Wines, Korbel Champagne, Bolla Wines, Bonterra Wines, but refuses even basic domestic partner benefits. Stop drinking these brands. If you're out at a bar and see a bottle of SoCo or Jack on the shelf, let them know that they're serving up drinks with a chaser of hate and ask them to consider taking it off the shelf. With so many gay-friendly liquor companies, there's no reason to drink Brown-Forman booze.
UPDATE: Sean Wachsman, P.R. Manager for Southern Comfort:
"I noticed you have included Brown-Forman on this list, so I wanted to provide you with some updated information. Brown-Forman began offering domestic partner benefits in January 2009, amended our EEO policy to include gender identity or expression and have created a GLBT Resource Group, among other GLBT efforts.
7. Cinemark
CEO Alan Stock donated $9,999 dollars to Yes on 8. Operating also under the name Tinseltown, CineArts and Century Theaters, Cinemark delivers the sort of highbrow, artistic films that appeal to our community. Despite multiple boycotts, neither Stock nor Cinemark have pledged to change anything, other than to send out form letters saying, "It would be inappropriate to influence our employees' position on personal issues outside the work environment, especially on political, social or religious activities," to people who write asking Cinemark to take a stand.
6. Domino’s Pizza
Founder Tom Monaghan is a co-founder of the Thomas More Law Center, which argued a win for the San Diego Fire Fighters lawsuit claiming they were sexually harassed by being forced to March in a gay pride parade. Monaghan also financed a 2001 ballot initiative to remove sexual orientation from Ypsilanti, Michigan's non-discrimination ordinance. David Brandon,CEO, opposes gay marriage and brushed off questions about Domino's decision not to extend health benefits to spouses of gay employees when asked about it in 2006, explaining why he doesn't support non-discrimination,
"I don't understand why we continually have to have discussions about who should and who shouldn't be included, in terms of our nondiscrimination policy, because I think identifying specific, special-interest groups or specific entities within the institution almost implies that unless you're on that list, then somehow we think you should be treated differently than people who are on that list. It should not be about lists."
The National Organization of Women boycott the store for the company's decision last year to donate $50,000 to a pro-life group.
5. Salvation Army
As a church, the Salvation Army is exempt from state anti-gay discrimination laws and the evangelical Christian organization takes advantage of it, openly says that "practicing homosexuals" aren't welcome in their organization. They also have lobbyists in D.C. and abroad who work to prevent gay rights legislation from being enacted.
Don't drop a red nickel in that red kettle, no matter how much the Christmas spirit tempts you to.
4.Manchester Grand Resorts
Doug Manchester, owner of San Diego’s Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, Grand del Mar Resort and Whitetail Club and Resort in Idaho gave $125,000 to Yes on Prop 8. PlanetOut Inc., the GLAAD, and the HRC all dropped any association with the hotel last year once it learned that Manchester was using his cash to put Prop. 8 on the ballot.
UPDATE 2011: Doug Manchester, notorious pro Prop 8 contributor, is no longer associated with the Grand Hyatt in San Diego and has recently sold 100% of his ownership stake. So, it's safe to go back to this specific resort hotel!
3. Urban Outfitters
Chairman, Richard Hayne, regularly supports anti-gay legislation and GOP candidates who vote against gay rights. In November, the company quickly removed t-shirts supporting gay marriage from their stores. However, one small glimmer of change occurred recently when the store announced that the t-shirts were back and that 100 percent of its "Marriage Equality" t-shirt sales are going to Equality California and National Center for Lesbian Rights.
2. Walmart Stores Inc.
Wal-Mart does not offer domestic partner benefits except in locations as required by law. In addition, while Wal-Mart is the largest retailer of books in the country, it refuses to carry any LGBT-related titles. In 2008, after Christian Conservative groups threatened a boycott, Wal-Mart left the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, with a spokesperson saying the company had decided not "to support or oppose highly controversial issues."
1. ExxonMobil
Rated a 0 by the HRC on gay and lesbian worker's rights, ExxonMobil is the largest Fortune 500 company to offer no domestic partner benefits. In 1999, when the two companies merged, they eliminated domestic-partner benefits for same-sex partners. The company also consistently refuses to ban discrimination based on orientation and gender identity, except where required by law.
Let us know what you think in lipservice.
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Keezi
Melissa
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