Buying for Equality 2010

The Human Rights Campaign has released their annual 'Buying for Equality' guide that scores businesses and products based on their commitment to LGBT equality.

The LGBT community is estimated to have $712 billion in buying power this year, according to research by Witeck-Combs Communications and MarketResearch.com. A recent study by Witeck-Combs/Harris Interactive also found that 78 percent of LGBT people are extremely or very likely to consider brands that are known to provide equal workplace benefits for their employees, including LGBT workers (HRC).

Be sure to check out which companies are supportive of equality by clicking here.

Also, be sure to contact supportive businesses and thank them!

Microsoft Donates 100K to Approve R-71

The Microsoft corporation has demonstrated its continued commitment to gay rights even in the face of conservative backlash. The organization donated 100,000 dollars to approve referendum 71 in Washington state which would keep domestic partnership rights.

Thank Microsoft for continuing to being a corporate champion for equality:

Voice: 1-800-Microsoft (642-7676)
E-contact Feedback Form

Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
Attn: Customer Servic

Tell Apple Computers to Pull Transphobic Ad

A new commercial by Apple mocks transgender people and attempts to make trans people seem less than and a "work in progress"

"The ad features model Gisele Bundchen, who is supposed to be the embodiment of a home movie made using iMovie. After the Mac presents Gisele, the PC presents a person wearing a dress identical to Gisele’s, in a wig, with no breasts, a five o’clock shadow and an abundance of exposed chest hair" (GLAAD).



GLAAD has reached out to Apple and urged them to pull the ad, please follow suit:
http://www.apple.com/contact/

Ice Cream Chain Ben & Jerry's Celebrate Marriage Equality in Vermont

Ben & Jerry's a large ice cream company has been making friendly gestures towards the gay community including renaming one of their famous flavors chubby hubby to "hubby hubby" for a month in honor of marriage equality. They will also have a wedding truck traveling the state handing out this new named flavor.

Walt Freese, chief executive officer of Ben & Jerry's said: "At the core of Ben & Jerry's values we believe that social justice can and should be something that every human being is entitled to. From the very beginning of our 30-year history, we have supported equal rights for all people."

The company was active in ensuring the passage of marriage legislation, back in April they stated their support for marriage equality and for an override of the governors veto.

Contact Ben & Jerry's to thank them for their support for LGBT rights and marriage equality.

E-comment box.

Give them a call at 802-846-1500 between 9:00 and 5:00 Eastern - Monday through Friday. Ask for Consumer Services.

Fast Food Chain Tim Hortons Pulls Sponsorship of Anti-Gay National Org for Marriage

8/10/09: Under pressure from LGBT activists like yourself, the company has pulled their sponsorship from the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage citing "It has come to our attention that the Rhode Island event organizer and purpose of the event fall outside of our sponsorship guidelines. As such, Tim Hortons can not provide support at the event.

Tim Hortons and its store owners have always welcomed all families and communities to its restaurants and will continue to do so. We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience this may have caused." (Tim Hortons).

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8/9/09: Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons is sponsoring the National Organization for Marriage’s antigay cookout and worship service on Aug. 16 at Aldrich Mansion in suburban Providence, Rhode Island.

Tim Hortons is Canada’s largest food service operation — by some measures, larger than McDonald’s in that country. It is also the largest Canadian coffeehouse chain — Starbucks is No. 2. It has expanded into the eastern United States in recent years, acquiring local chains and amassing a network of 500 U.S. restaurants as it seeks to push aside Starbucks and New England-based Dunkin’ Donuts.

Tim Hortons’ sponsorship of the National Organization for Marriage appears to be in violation of corporate policy against support for religious and political causes.

Contact Tim Hortons and give them your thoughts about the value of corporate policies that apparently were made to be broken.

Crossposted via Truth Wins Out.

Southern AAA Reverses Policy and Recognizes LGBT Families

7/27/09: "During a face-to-face meeting on Wednesday, July 21, between Equality Florida and AAA South, top management at the 4th largest AAA affiliate in the country committed to recognizing all spouses, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The policy allows gay married couples to receive spousal discounts under AAA's Associate Membership program" (Planet Transgender).

Send AAA South a thank you letter with Equality Florida's E-form for their commitment to equality

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6/29/09: The American Automobile Association (AAA) is a 50 million member North-American lobbying, insurance and service organization. The organization isn't a single entity but comprised of several smaller regional clubs.

Equality Florida is reporting that "AAA South is made up of Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Puerto Rico and that they have taken an increasingly hard line in rejecting the recognition of gay and lesbian couples"

The problem is that there are some reports that "AAA refused to provide a family or associate membership to the callers partner to even those who were legally married elsewhere or have civil union or domestic partnership status." In fairness to the company there are also many statements by couples who claim they had no problems and faced no discrimination.

Other AAA's around the country are fully inclusive and recognize LGBT families.

Contact AAA South membership services and urge them to promote fairness and adopt a uniform standard for dealing with LGBT individuals and couples.

Membership services:
1-800-222-1134

FedEx Now Offers Transgender Workplace Protections

FedEx a mega logistics and delivery company has made a positive step forward by offering protections to transgender employees. The official policy of the company will be altered to be inclusive of gender identity.

This gesture by the company is applauded, especially after the company invoked the Defense of Marriage Act to deny benefits to its LGBT employees back in February.

Use the FedEx customer service form to applaud their decision to allow transgender protections, and urge them to continue on this progressive path by lifting the ban on providing benefits to same-sex couples.

Rockstar Energy Makes Nice With The Gays

Rockstar Energy Drinks was coming under increasing pressure by LGBT activists and others who were concerned about the alleged connection between the company and racist, homophobic, right-wing radio personality Michael Savage.

The company has reached out to the LGBT community to improve it's image and prove that they are not connected with nor subscribe to his anti-gay views.

In a press release it was announced that:

"It has recently come to ROCKSTAR’s attention that there might be a misconception about our company’s policy and my personal support for LGBT rights,” said Weiner. “We apologize for that misunderstanding, and want to make clear today that our company fully supports our LGBT employees and our LGBT customers.”

"Some have erroneously associated our company with offensive language directed at LGBT people, specifically statements coming from Michael Savage, who is not and has never been a shareholder or officer of ROCKSTAR Energy Drink. On behalf of our company and directors, including myself and CFO Janet Weiner, I would like to take this opportunity to disavow any offensive statements directed toward LGBT people, including statements from Michael Savage. ROCKSTAR assures our customers and the general public that our brand will never be associated with any language that does not affirm the essential dignity of every person in our diverse national community"(Change).

The company will contribute $100,000 to several prominent queer organizations including the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), and The Trevor Project, and ROCKSTAR Energy Drink will also financially sponsor the National LGBT Bloggers Initiative.

Rockstar will institute protections for employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. They also are including these issues in their diversity training, and will offer support and resources to those interested in starting an LGBT group for employees.

We applaud this move by Rockstar to support their LGBT employees and customers and encourage people to contact them to show support for this decision.

Tony Guilfoyle
Director of Corporate Relations, ROCKSTAR Energy Drink
tony.g@rockstar69.com
415-269-2064