Queeried
Want to make sure the money you’re spending on your clothes, gadgets and travel is going towards companies that support you and the LGBT community? These ten companies have all shown their support for equal rights for all via political activism, fund-raising and equal rights and benefits for same sex partners of their employees.
1. Levi’s
Big supporters of the No to Prop 8 campaign in California, Levi’s have continued their backing of the LGBT community by joining the White Knot movement earlier this year and tying white ribbons to their mannequins in continued support of gay marriage. The company is also as supportive of it’s LGBt workforce being the first Fortune 500 company to offer unmarried domestic partners health benefits.
2. American Apparel
Another Californian company putting it’s support behind the repeal of Proposition 8, American Apparel went very public with it’s support producing a Legalize Gay T-shirt in 2008 for protestors. Overwhelmed by the response of the tee American Apparel went on to sell it in stores and online even though they were met with protests for doing so. Like Levi’s the guys at American Apparel have also continued with their support of the LGBT community offering two new gay rights tees as part of their new library range.
3. Nike
Going on record in support of Referendum 71 in Washington, Nike have made a very clear statement that they are in support of equal rights for all. In the past they have also shown their willingness to listen to and support the views of the LGBT community by shelving an advertising campaign after there were complaints that it was sending out anti-gay messages.
4. Microsoft
Another company that received some criticism from the LGBT community in the past, Microsoft recently made it’s position on gay rights crystal clear by donating $100,000 to Washington Families Standing Together in support of Referendum 71. Bill Gates, the chairman, and Steven A Ballmer, the chief executive also showed their personal support with additional contributions.
5. American Airlines
By setting up the Rainbow Team, the first LGBT dedicated airline sales division and website, American Airlines have made themselves stand out for the rest of the airlines, and don’t just stop at this service. Also working hard to offer the LGBT community useful services, AA also list gay themed national events on their events calendars and often attend Pride parades with their very own floats.
6. Apple
Speaking out in support of gay marriage and opposing Proposition 8, Apple put it’s money where it’s mouth was donating $100,000 to the No on Prop 8 campaign, and also like Levi’s shows it’s support through the benefits it offers start which includes equal rights and benefits to their employees’ same sex partners.
7. Google
Not a company usually known for speaking out on social issues, Google made the unusual step to do just that last September, releasing a statement stating that “while there are many objections to this proposition – further government encroachment on personal lives, ambiguously written text – it is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8.” Alongside this Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the founders of Google, also donated $140,000 to the No campaign.
8. Starbucks
Calling for the approval of Referendum 71 Starbucks are another company showing their support for gay rights, and whilst they haven’t donated to the campaign in the same way as Microsoft have, they have been long term supporters of the LGBT community featuring a pro-gay message by Armistead Maupin on their coffee cups back in 2005.
9. Boeing
Standing alongside Starbucks, Nike and Microsoft in their support of Referendum 71, Boeing, the commercial airline manufacturer has shown that it is in full support of equal rights for gays and lesbians..
10. IBM
Constantly finding itself at the top of gay friendly employee lists, IBM has worked hard to make its work environment an inclusive one, offering health benefits to it’s employees’ same sex partners and also having an anti discrimination clause. And it’s definitely not just all talk with the Human Rights Campaign having rated IBM 100% on it’s gay friendly index since 2003, and IBM winning over 40 LGBT awards globally.