Working it out. (reader forum).

Thank you for your article on gay-friendly businesses ["In Good Comparties," October 29]. I was pleased to see you point out the Charles Schwab company. I used to work for Fidelity Investments, one of their main competitors, and I can tell you my experience at Fidelity was far from gay-friendly. I endured plenty of hateful comments about gays during my years there, and I now regret not speaking up. If I had, perhaps they would have added sexual orientation to their nondiscrimination policy. Instead I did what most gays in the brokerage industry do: stayed in the closet at work. As gay and lesbian consumers, we need to reward companies like Schwab that protect gay and lesbian employees!

Bill Darin Strickland, Houston, Tex.

OK, you listed Pacific Gas and Electric Corp. as one of the top gay-friendly companies to work for. So let me get this right. If I develop a company and offer domestic-partner benefits, have a nondiscrimination policy inclusive of LGBT people, and set up a gay and lesbian employees' group but show blatant disregard for the health and well-being of my community, my company will get promoted in your magazine? Come on, guys! Social responsibility means being socially responsible to the entire community, not just select groups.

Amy Terrizzi, via the Internet

While I am usually enthusiastic to hear about any employer that consciously chooses to create a positive work environment for its gay employees, I must take issue with the continual high praise that J.P. Morgan Chase has received from The Advocate, the Human Rights Campaign, and many other GLBT publications and groups. Is it just me, or hasn't anyone else noticed the J.P. Morgan Chase ATMs located in ExxonMobil stations throughout the country? Sorry, but it doesn't sound to me like J.P. Morgan Chase is walking its talk.

Casey L. Anderson, Dallas, Tex.