Corporate America embraces equality

While governments are slow to act in regards to treating gay citizens equal before the law big business moves much faster. Every year the Human Rights Campaign surveys major corporations to see how what policies they have, regarding equal treatment of gay employees, have changed.

And this year’s suvey and rating has just been released showing a record number of 138 major corporations scoring 100 percent. Last year only 101 companies scored 100 percent and 2002 only 13 did.

Many corporations now routinely offer medical coverage and family leave to employees with same-sex partners. Darryl Herrschaft of HRC said: “More companies are not only implementing very comprehensive workplace policies that cover gay employees and their families but more companies are doing it faster and also seeking recognition for it.”

Companies that offer equal benefits to gay employees include GM, Ford, IBM, Raytheon, Bausch & Lomb, Corning, Eastman Kodak, Xerox, Clorox, Adobe, Aetna, American Express, Apple, Chevron, Chubb, Citigroup, Boeing, Coca-Cola, Sprint, DaimlerChrysler, Microsoft, Nike, Google, GlaxoSmithKline, Pepsi, Honeywell, Kraft, Wells Fargo and others. Many of the corporations issued press releases about their ratings when they were announced.

And no, playing show tunes in the elevator doesn't count.