Tempting gay employees.Work takes up a great deal of our time and energy, but how many gays and lesbians actually like where they work or what they do for a living? As the following stories show, many do. We look at ten companies that respect their gay workers and at ten gay men and lesbians who love their jobs. The Advocate's TOP TEN COMPANIES FOR 2000 adds to a growing list of sweet workplaces for gays and lesbians Given that most people spend more than half their weekday waking hours on the job, deciding where to work can be one of the most difficult decisions to make. The choice can be even more complicated for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered transgendered adjective Relating to a person who has undergone genital/sexual reassignment surgery Transgender health issues Hormonal therapy, cosmetic surgery, fertility options–eg, egg and sperm banking. See Sexual reassignment. Cf Transsexual. people. After all, it's emotionally and intellectually draining to hide who you are or to work in a homophobic environment. Now, however, gay workers are in something of a buyers' market. Though many companies still have a long way to go in fostering an atmosphere of inclusion, many others have made important strides over the last few years, offering domestic-partner benefits for same-sex couples and including written nondiscrimination policies for sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. in their corporate statements. "In this tight job market, people are seeking out companies that offer domestic-partner benefits, knowing it is a place that welcomes everybody," says Selisse Berry, executive director of the Pride Collaborative, a gay and lesbian work association in San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden . There are a number of resources for figuring out which company is right for you. Grant Lukenbill, an author whose titles include Smart Spending: The Gay and Lesbian Guide to Socially Responsible Shopping and Investing, compiles a yearly list that rates some of the largest companies in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , which he calls the glvIndex, or gay-lesbian values index. It ranks private companies on a ten-point scale that takes into account whether the company includes sexual orientation in its nondiscrimination policy, has same-sex domestic-partner benefits, and does not support groups that oppose passage of rights protections for gays and lesbians, among other things. Beyond that, Lukenbill says, it is also vital to consider the company's overall values. "It is important to consider not only if it is a great place to work but also if it's making great products and if it's listening to its investors," says Lukenbill. "Those three things must work together equally." Likewise, the Human Rights Campaign, as part of its yearly report on the U.S. workplace, keeps an ongoing list of private and public companies and organizations, in addition to state and federal governments and agencies, that provide domestic-partner benefits and that have written policies prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Last year The Advocate presented a list of 25 gay-friendly companies. Among the main criteria used to determine which companies to include were whether the companies had (or were working toward) domestic-partner benefits, a sexual orientation nondiscrimination policy, and education on sexual orientation issues. The following is a list of ten additional companies that have made significant strides in those three areas. It is not intended to be a list of the ten best companies--only ten more good ones to add to last year's list. The companies AT&T New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. 1999 SALES: $62.4 billion EMPLOYEES: 151,000 FORTUNE 500 RANKING: 8 AT&T was one of the first Fortune 500 companies to have a written sexual orientation nondiscrimination policy. The firm stood up to religious conservatives who attempted to boycott the company in the mid 1990s for its nondiscrimination policy. AT&T was also a pioneer in targeting advertisements to the gay and lesbian community. Oracle Redwood Shores, Calif. FISCAL 2000 SALES: $10.1 billion EMPLOYEES: 41,320 FORTUNE 500 RANKING:195 One of the largest manufacturers of computer software, Oracle was an early supporter of the Employment NonDiscrimination Act (ENDA ENDA Employment Non-Discrimination Act (civil rights legislation; US Congress) ENDA Environmental Development Action ENDA Encontro Nacional de Dirigentes Associativos (Portugal) ), the federal bill that would ban antigay workplace discrimination, as well as AIDS and breast cancer organizations. The company even pays for its corporate gay group to march in the San Francisco gay pride parade A gay pride parade or LGBT pride parade is part of a festival or ceremony held by the LGBT community of a city to commemorate the struggle for LGBT rights and pride. . Prudential Newark, N.J. 1999 SALES: $25.7 billion EMPLOYEES: 50,000 FORTUNE 500 RANKING: 48 Prudential has domestic-partner benefits that allow all employees to add a second adult to their benefits packages. The insurer also supports a full roster of AIDS charities and other gay and lesbian causes. It also has a corporate gay pride month in which members of the board actively participate. Reebok Ree´bok` n. 1. (Zool.) The peele. Stoughton, Mass. 1999 SALES: $2.9 billion EMPLOYEES: 6,500 According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Lukenbill, Reebok was the first sports-shoe manufacturer to offer domestic-partner benefits to same-sex employees. The company has also avoided the overseas labor abuses of some of its competitors. It is affiliated with gay rights groups, and it sponsors gay and lesbian service groups. Additionally, it advertises in the gay and lesbian press. Scholastic New York City FISCAL 2000 SALES: $1.4 billion EMPLOYEES: 9,600 Scholastic is the publisher of educational and children's books, including the Harry Potter series. Its stock is held by the progressive Meyers Pride Value Fund mutual fund. The company offers full domestic-partner benefits and has a written nondiscrimination policy. Starbucks Seattle FISCAL 2000 REVENUES: $1.7 billion EMPLOYEES: 37,000 The latte giant actively supports its gay and lesbian employee group. In addition to a written nondiscrimination policy, it provides health benefits to all of its employees working 20 hours or more a week, including same-sex domestic-partner benefits. The company displays a portion of the AIDS quilt at its corporate headquarters. Subaru of America Cherry Hill Cherry Hill, township (1990 pop. 69,319), Camden co., W central N.J.; name was changed from Delaware township to Cherry Hill in 1961. Largely residential, Cherry Hill has been marked by great development and housing growth, especially since the 1970s. , N.J. (corporate parent located in Tokyo) TOTAL FISCAL 1999 REVENUES: $11.3 billion EMPLOYEES: 14,995 worldwide Before the Detroit automakers fell in line, Subaru of America was the first car manufacturer in the United States to institute domestic-partner benefits, in May 2000. The company has conducted gay-oriented advertising campaigns and is consequently one of the most popular cars among American lesbians. Subaru sponsors Visa's Rainbow credit card, which donates a portion of profits to gay organizations. Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAVA[3]) is an American vendor of computers, computer components, computer software, and information-technology services, founded on 24 February 1982. Palo Alto Palo Alto, city, California Palo Alto (păl`ō ăl`tō), city (1990 pop. 55,900), Santa Clara co., W Calif.; inc. 1894. Although primarily residential, Palo Alto has aerospace, electronics, and advanced research industries. , Calif. FISCAL 2000 SALES (PRELIMINARY FIGURES): $15.7 billion EMPLOYEES: 29,000 FORTUNE 500 RANKING: 150 The computer hardware manufacturer that brought us Java software was a sponsor of the 2000 San Francisco International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (as were Prudential and Wells Fargo Wells Fargo armored carriers of bullion. [Am. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 1147] See : Protectiveness Wells Fargo company that handled express service to western states; often robbed. [Am. Hist. ) and the San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. Gay Pride 2000 parade. The company actively recruits gay and lesbian employees, and the gay and lesbian group has an internal corporate Web site. The human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. office has helped employees who want to change genders get counseling support. Wainwright Bank and Trust Boston 1999 ASSETS: $376 million EMPLOYEES: 106 One of the nation's most progressive banks, Wainwright has offered domestic-partner benefits since 1994. It also convinced the Massachusetts Bankers Association health insurance group to offer the benefits to its 160 member banks. It owns 30% of Trillium Asset Management, a progressive investment fund involved in overturning antigay corporate policies nationwide. Half of the bank's officers are women, and 40% of its directors are minorities. It has the only openly lesbian board member of any publicly traded bank in the country. Wells Fargo San Francisco 1999 ASSETS: $218 billion EMPLOYEES: 103,052 FORTUNE 500 RANKING: 68 Wells Fargo is listed in the Domini Social Index, a stock portfolio of socially responsible companies, along with AT&T, Reebok, Scholastic, Starbucks, and Sun Microsystems. The bank conglomerate has run ad campaigns aimed at gay and lesbian audiences. It provides support to its gay and lesbian employee group, though groups of any kind were allowed to form only a year ago. The bank also supports the volunteer efforts of its gay and lesbian employees outside the bank, and its diversity training includes sexual orientation. THE ORIGINAL LIST Last year The Advocate chose 25 firms as among the best for gay and lesbian employees. The companies are all still gay-friendly firms, with one exception: Mobil. After Exxon and Mobil merged, the new management revoked Mobil's domestic-partnership policy to conform with Exxon's lack of such benefits. Here are file firms from last year's list that are still good places to work. American Airlines American Airlines Major U.S. airline. American was created through a merger of several smaller U.S. airlines and incorporated in 1934. It continued to buy the routes of other airlines, becoming an international carrier in the 1970s; its routes include South America, the American Express American Express (NYSE: AXP), sometimes known as "AmEx" or "Amex", is a diversified global financial services company, headquartered in New York City. The company is best known for its credit card, charge card and traveler's cheque businesses. Apple Computer BankBoston Bell Atlantic now Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications, Inc. Ben and Jerry's Homemade currently in the process of being sold to Unilever Charles Schwab Charles Schwab can refer to:
Chubb Corp. Eastman Kodak Co. Fannie Mae Fannie Mae: see Federal National Mortgage Association. Ford Motor Co. IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) Intel Levi Strauss
Levi Strauss, born Löb Strauß & Co. The Limited Lucent Technologies Polaroid Quark Inc. S.C. Johnson Sara Lee Texas instruments United Airlines The Walt Disney Co. Xerox |
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