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Published On: Fri, May 31st, 2013

ExxonMobil makes headlines by not adding ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ to their broad discrimination policy

ExxonMobil shareholders overwhelmingly have rejected a proposition to incorporate into the company’s written non-discrimination policy language explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

women men toilet unisex signExxonMobil says its “global zero-tolerance policy” already applies to “all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” even though the phrases “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” do not appear in the current policy, as written.

This is the fourteenth year the topic has been proposed and the company stands by their stance that harassment, “even in its most subtle forms, directly conflicts with company policy and will not be tolerated. All employees are subject to disciplinary action, including termination, for any act of harassment.”

The shareholder proposition, submitted by the New York State Common Retirement Fund, and voted down by 81 percent of stockholders, would have introduced into the company’s zero-tolerance non-discrimination policy language specifically addressing LGBT individuals.

The ExxonMobil Board of Directors, in a proxy statement, recommended that shareholders vote against the proposal:

“The Board has reviewed in detail ExxonMobil’s existing global policies that prohibit all forms of discrimination, including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in any Company workplace, anywhere in the world,” it said. “In fact, ExxonMobil’s policies go beyond the law and prohibit any form of discrimination. Based on these existing all-inclusive, zero-tolerance policies, the Board believes the proposal is unnecessary.”

Conservative groups, including the Family Research Council, applauded shareholders for rejecting the proposal.

“While other businesses drift away from their principles or capitulate under pressure, Exxon is putting its stock in something other than political correctness,” said FRC President Tony Perkins. “Exxon is setting a good example for other businesses who think promoting extreme political views is the only away to avoid the strong arm tactics of far left special interests.”

“It’s clear that ExxonMobil is not going to change its policy unless it’s forced to,” said Heather Cronk, director of GetEqual, told MSNBC after the vote.

It appears that legal force will now proceed.

A week before Wednesday’s shareholder meeting, the oil giant was sued by the LGBT advocacy group Freedom to Work, which alleges that ExxonMobil discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation by hiring a less-qualified administrative assistant rather than one who served as treasurer of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

The Los Angeles Times noted that a lawyer for the plaintiffs called ExxonMobil “an outlier that refuses to follow industry standards.”

“The concern is that it’s one of the largest corporations in the world yet won’t adopt an express policy prohibiting sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination,” the newspaper quoted Peter Romer-Friedman as saying.

“Exxon might make money from fossil fuels, but it’s lagging behind most other Fortune 500 companies with fossilized workplace policies,” Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work, declared in a statement released on the organization’s Facebook page.  “Exxon remains on the wrong side of history.”

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About the Author

- Writer and Co-Founder of The Global Dispatch, Brandon has been covering news, offering commentary for years, beginning professionally in 2003 on Crazed Fanboy before expanding into other blogs and sites. Appearing on several radio shows, Brandon has hosted Dispatch Radio, written his first novel (The Rise of the Templar) and completed the three years Global University program in Ministerial Studies to be a pastor. To Contact Brandon email [email protected] ATTN: BRANDON

Displaying 2 Comments
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  1. CHRISTOPHER ALLEN HORTON says:

    ExxonMobil IS CORRECT – “global zero-tolerance policy” DOES MEAN EVERYONE IS INCLUDED AND ALL TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION ARE INCLUDED. Gays WILL “KEEP ON KNOCKIN’ AT THE DOOR” – BUT, “NO SALE!”

    IN REFERENCE TO THE GRAPHIC WHICH ACCOMPANIES THIS ARTICLE, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THERAPISTS REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT GENDER-REASSIGNMENT SURGERY TO LIVE AS THE DESIRED GENDER FOR – AT LEAST – ONE YEAR BEFORE THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE TAKES PLACE. THAT MEANS HORMONAL INJECTIONS AND OPPOSITE-GENDER CLOTHING. BUT, ACCORDING TO THE transgender community, THERE ARE ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN IT COMES TO UTILIZING PUBLIC RESTROOMS.

    AS A MALE HOMOSEXUAL, I WILL TYPE IT THIS WAY; THE PROBLEM IS – IN REFERENCE TO MALE-TO-FEMALE TRANSFORMATION – MANY BIOLOGICAL MALES HAVE LARGE BONE-STRUCTURES. THIS MEANS, THEY MAKE “UGLY WOMEN.” SO, DISCRIMINATION IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT HETEROSEXUALS AND DISAPPROVING HOMOSEXUALS CAN SEE THESE UGLY MALES IN FEMALE CLOTHING APPROACHING/ENTERING A PUBLIC MEN’S ROOM.

    CHRISTOPHER ALLEN HORTON

    • CHRISTOPHER ALLEN HORTON says:

      AFTER RE-READING THE LAST SENTENCE OF MY EARLIER COMMENTARY, I REALIZED IT MAY BE CONFUSING TO HETEROSEXUALS. SO, I WILL EXPLAIN.

      FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING “PRE-OPERATIVE” PEOPLE WHO WEAR OPPOSITE-GENDER CLOTHING MUST UTILIZE THE PUBLIC RESTROOM ASSIGNED TO THEIR BIOLOGICAL GENDER. I THINK THIS IS DONE FOR SAFETY REASONS. [There are accounts of males in female clothing who sexually assault biological females in public women’s rooms]. SO, AS PREVIOUSLY TYPED, UGLY MALES IN FEMALE CLOTHING USE PUBLIC MEN’S ROOMS.

      CHRISTOPHER ALLEN HORTON

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