“Red symbolizes love. That’s what marriage is all about,” says Charlie Joughin, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, the LGBT-rights advocacy group that started the campaign by turning its equal-sign logo red. The HRC also is offering free equality stickers as a thanks to anyone willing to show their support.

What started as a simple color swap has evolved into massive public promotion, with online users—as true to our meme-hungry society—putting their own spin on the equality symbol. How will you show your support? Take a look at our selection of these powerful images, then visit the Human Rights Campaign flickr page for more.

Same-Gender Equality Lady Liberty & Justice

Same-Gender Equality Wedding Rings

Same-Gender Marriage Equality Painted Hand

Same-Gender Marriage Equality Words of Marriage

Same-Gender Equality Les Miserables

Same-Gender Marriage Equality Collage

Same-Gender Marriage Equality: We Are the 58 Percent

Same-Gender Marriage Equality Comes Out

Same-Gender Marriage Equality Zombies

Same-Gender Marriage Equality Grumpy Cat

The post Red for Equality: What Are the 10 Most Powerful Memes for Same-Gender Marriage? appeared first on DiversityInc.

“We’ve ceased making progress at the top in any industry anywhere in the world,” Sandberg writes. “In the United States, women have had 14 percent of the top corporate jobs and 17 percent of the board seats for 10 years. Ten years of no progress,” despite the fact that women now earn more bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees than men.

Sandberg’s advice to women? Don’t get a mentor if you want to excel—you need to excel first, then you’ll get a mentor. It’s a philosophy that has sparked a significant debate, especially since her viewpoint relieves many organizations of the responsibility of promoting equality in the workplace and advocating cultural-competence education, writes Barbara Frankel, Senior Vice President and Executive Editor, DiversityInc.

As a woman who has fought for three decades in the workplace for a place at the table … I agree with Sandberg that too many women give up too easily as the challenges of family and work become overwhelming. But her simplistic solution of urging women to take control of themselves and join “Lean In Circles” to bolster each other ignores the reality that most workplace inequities aren’t caused by the victims, but by the institutions and those in power who benefit from continuity.”

Read the rest of Frankel’s reaction to Lean In in this column.

Read these reviews and reactions from other top news outlets—then share your thoughts with us in the comments below:

Sheryl Sandberg Inspired and Offended on 60 Minutes [with video]
Sandberg says she’s not blaming women, but there are a lot more factors to success that women can—and should—control.

SHERYL SANDBERG: Women Need to Get More Comfortable With Power
This overview of Sandberg’s book breaks it down into seven lessons, including “women should not ask for mentors” and “having it all is a myth.”

‘This Week’ Roundtable on Sheryl Sandberg
Do men outnumber women when it comes to ambition for leadership? Panelists discuss controversy surrounding Sandberg’s Lean In.

Lean In, Read On: 21 Perspectives on Sheryl Sandberg’s Book
Sandberg is a “PowerPoint Pied Piper in Prada ankle books,” wrote Maureen Dowd, New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize recipient.

10 Things Sheryl Sandberg Gets Exactly Right In Lean In
Despite criticism, you can’t ignore that Sandberg hits the nail on the head: Men still rule the world.

Gen-Y Responds to Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In
What do 20-something’s think about Sandberg’s book? Here are some first-hand responses on Lean In.

Sheryl Sandberg: On a Mission to Elevate Women
Is Sandberg too rich, too successful to lead a women’s movement? The Facebook COO won’t back down despite criticism.

Facebook’s Sandberg Says Women’s Revolution Has Stalled
CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell interviews Sandberg.

60 Minutes: Sandberg on Mentoring
Sandberg details the insecurities she still has about her success and about the mentors she had along the way.

The post Sandberg’s Lean In: Women’s Biggest Barrier to Success? Themselves appeared first on DiversityInc.

Macke posted on her Facebook page that Maddow, an out lesbian, is an “angry young man.” After the comment went viral when the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) posted a screenshot of it, Macke responded that she should have said “antagonistic,” adding, “I knew what I was saying.”

Macke, who has been with Cincinnati’s Fox affiliate for almost 20 years, was suspended for two days. She subsequently removed the post and issued a real apology, saying: “I recently posted comments on my personal Facebook page regarding cable news anchor Rachel Maddow which were insensitive and inappropriate. I apologize to Ms. Maddow and any others who may have been offended by my comments, as they do not reflect my firm beliefs in individual and equal rights, and they certainly do not represent the opinions or position of my employer WXIX-TV.”

Can You Get Fired For Social-Media Posts? 

The National Labor Relations Board has been clear that posting disparaging comments about your workplace on social media isn’t grounds for firing. But posting comments that are libelous about anyone, including your employer, subjects you to potential legal action.  As this blog from Findlaw.com illustrates, the quickest ways to get in trouble at work are to:

• insult customers,
• insult future employers,
• post inappropriate photos of yourself (Anthony Weiner)
• post confidential work information,
• write offensive comments.

Corporate Values & Stereotypes 

So what should inclusive companies do when their employees post racist, sexist or homophobic comments or images?  Dr. Claude Steele, Dean of Education at Stanford University and a renowned expert on stereotypes who has spoken at our events, has told us that companies have to be forthright in creating cultures that have no tolerance for discriminatory comments of any type.

“If I were leading an organization and this happened, if the opportunity arose in a naturalistic way, I’d condemn it and say this is something to be ashamed of. That’s what happened in the civil-rights movement—I’m old enough to remember when you could use the N-word in Congress, and that’s not acceptable anymore,” Dr. Steele said.

For more on stereotypes and social media, read Racist Obama Facebook Pages & Your Office: What Do You Need to Know?

The post Fox Anchor In Trouble After Calling Rachel Maddow ‘Angry Young Man’ appeared first on DiversityInc.

Photo: George Gojkovic/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

 Rush Limbaugh is paying the price for his latest misogynistic comment. In today’s social-media world, where everything is on immediate public display, advertisers are fleeing his show. 

Limbaugh has made racist, homophobic and anti-women comments before without major repercussions. But this time, after he called Georgetown University student Sandra Fluke a “slut” and a “prostitute” for advocating for women’s reproductive rights, the public outcry has been immediate and intense, thanks to Facebook and Twitter. He apologized, but the damage has been done, as eight major advertisers have pulled the plug. These include: Quicken Loans, Sleep Train, Sleep Number, Citrix Systems, Carbonite, LegalZoom, ProFlowers and, most recently, AOL.

Social Media: Viral & Unforgiving 

Similar to our recent news analysis of Lowe’s Muslim publicity gaffe, Limbaugh’s repercussions all too clearly showcase the unforgiving nature of social media. Social media has evolved in the last few years from an online networking tool to a powerful medium for the viral spread of information, especially corporate and political publicity gaffes. 

Social-media users were quick to lobby Limbaugh’s advertisers to pull advertising from the show. A real-time Twitter report shows that Quicken loans received approximately 1,500 tweets and LegalZoom received more than 1,200 tweets within 24 hours, while Facebook had two anti-Limbaugh pages by Saturday with more than 18,000 and 6,000 likes. Additionally, the petition posted on Left Action website’s Boycott Rush page had almost 50,000 signatures within 24 hours.

What’s essential these days is speed of reaction. If someone offends or states something not in line with corporate values, a response must be immediate. Limbaugh’s delayed apology on Saturday (three days after the incident and two days after Fluke’s response on Thursday) did little to quell the viral backlash. ProFlowers said Sunday on its Facebook page that Limbaugh’s remarks “went beyond political discourse to a personal attack and do not reflect our values as a company.” 

The radio host has a long history of inappropriate and controversial comments, which can easily be found with a simple Google search. But this is the first time advertisers have deserted him in droves. Here’s a short example of some of his past remarks: 

• [Secretary of State Hillary Clinton] once tried to join the Marines … They didn’t have uniforms or boots big enough to fit that butt and those ankles. (Sept. 23, 2009) 

• Obama’s got a healthcare logo that’s right out of Adolf Hitler’s playbook … Adolf Hitler, like Barack Obama, also ruled by dictate. (Aug. 6, 2009)  

• Feminism was established to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream. (April 10, 2009)  

• Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it. (Jan. 19, 2007)  

A Lesson in Corporate Values 

Limbaugh is neither the first nor the last to experience the repercussions of today’s instant-feedback social media. Here are some of our related examples: 

Jeremy Lin & Racism: 3 Ways to Stop Dangerous Stereotypes
Asian basketball star Jeremy Lin has become the subject of jokes and racist comments. What can you do to prevent stereotyping in your organization? 

Did Komen’s Lack of Board Diversity Cause Its Crisis?
The nonprofit organization’s board of directors is mostly Texan, homogeneous and wealthy. Here’s how the lack of diversity fueled its misstep over funding to Planned Parenthood. 

‘Blacks Should Not Be Satisfied With Food Stamps’: The Dangers of Stereotypes
Dr. Claude Steele, educator and expert on stereotypes, gives advice on the dangers of these kinds of misstatements, their impact on the workplace and how to handle them. 

‘I’m Puerto Rican – I’d Be Great at Selling Drugs’; ‘Not Married? She Must Be a Lesbian’
ABC’s comedy “Work It” has offended Latinos, LGBT people, TV critics and viewers. How can a company use its employee-resource groups, diversity councils and clarity of values to prevent multicultural missteps?

Ask the White Guy: Decision Making, Clarity of Values & What to Do When It Goes Horribly Wrong
Are you violating your values? If you are, you can’t hide from the repercussions.

Comments are now closed for this article.

The post Is This the End of Rush Limbaugh? Advertisers Flee Show appeared first on DiversityInc.

The Florida Family Association (FFA), whose website states its mission as to “educate people on what they can do to defend, protect and promote traditional, biblical values,” mounted a campaign to convince corporate advertisers to stop advertising on TLC’s reality show “All-American Muslim.” Lowe’s and kayak.com were the only advertisers—out of 65 that FFA targeted—that caved in, according to numerous news sources. 

On its website, FFA charges that “the show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks while excluding many Islamic believers whose agenda poses a clear and present danger to liberties and traditional values that the majority of Americans cherish.”

After pulling its advertising, Lowe’s remained silent for several days as public outrage regarding its decision increased. Lowe’s then publicly explained its decision in a Facebook post on Saturday, saying: “Individuals and groups have strong political and societal views on this topic, and this program became a lighting [sic] rod for many of those views … We believe it is best to respectfully defer to communities, individuals and groups to discuss and consider such issues of importance.” 

Unfortunately for Lowe’s, the equivocating Facebook comment received more than 28,000 comments—most of them bigoted, anti-Muslim statements or statements supporting the show. 

Shortly after Lowe’s posted its original Facebook comment and allowed the hateful responses to remain on its Facebook page, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)  asked the company to address the furor and to have a meeting with CAIR leaders. Lowe’s did not respond.

Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR’s national communications director, said in a statement: “If Lowe’s was concerned about spreading hate speech, you would think that they would filter and delete the worst [comments]. It’s hard to tell if leaving them up is intentional or not.” CAIR first sent Lowe’s CEO Robert Niblock a letter Monday, noting the “tremendous controversy” that has been caused by its decisions. 

Lowe’s finally took down the offensive comments Wednesday and promised to monitor its page more. Lowe’s posted this apology: “We wanted to get back to you about our last post and the comments that followed. For several days, our Facebook page has become a forum of debate surrounding a TLC program—and to let us know how you feel. Many of the comments are specifically about Lowe’s advertising decision … many more are about broader political and social issues. Some of the comments have been sharp and disrespectful in tone, but out of respect for the transparency of social media, we let the debate continue. However, we have seen a large volume of comments become more pointed and hateful. As a result, we have taken the step of removing all previous posts and will more tightly filter future comments on this topic. You will be able to respond to this post, but in the spirit of social media, please keep your comments on this Facebook page respectful. We appreciate your understanding. Again, we offer our sincere apology to anyone offended by our advertising business decision or posts on this page.”

As of Thursday morning, more than 4,000 new comments were posted, the majority of them offensive to Muslims. 

What Went Wrong?

Lowe’s claims a commitment to diversity and inclusion, stating: “We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, across our workforce and our customers, and we’re proud of that longstanding commitment.” This must be viewed in light of what we can find on its website.

There is no mention of diversity on the Lowe’s homepage, and a search for “diversity” yields no results. Clicking on the “About Lowe’s” link on the homepage returns no information on diversity, and “diversity” does not appear in the corporate-citizenship, corporate-overview or media areas of their website. A search for the word “diversity” in that area also returns no responses. In the careers area, there are three paragraphs describing a “commitment” to diversity in the broadest and least specific ways. No goals, including any on supplier diversity, are mentioned, and there is no quote about diversity from their CEO.

Lowe’s has not participated in The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity survey in the past nine years.

When asked for comment, Lowe’s responded to DiversityInc similarly to what it stated on Facebook. Additionally, Lowe’s said: “Following this development, dozens of companies removed their advertising from the program beginning in late November. Lowe’s made the decision to discontinue our advertising on December 5.” DiversityInc cannot find evidence of “dozens of companies” canceling advertising.

In our opinion, by having no demonstrable understanding of diversity management practices and no stated clarity on its own values, Lowe’s was incapable of making good decisions. By bending to a hate group (the Florida Family Association), Lowe’s became their ally. It’s very difficult to escape repercussions of that kind of association, as Lowe’s learned when allied haters posted thousands of hate-filled comments on its Facebook page. In a misguided attempt to “respect the transparency of social media,” it abdicated its moral responsibility and offended millions of people—both Muslim and non-Muslim.

DiversityInc has two resources that lend clarity to this situation: DiversityInc CEO Luke Visconti’s column “Decision Making, Clarity of Values & What Happens When It Goes Horribly Wrong” and a recent DiversityInc panel with two leading experts, “Muslims & Stereotypes: Do They Really Hate Us?“

What are others saying?

Many commentators, civil-rights groups and elected officials also are urging Lowe’s to take more action. Here is what they are saying:

Lowe’s Criticized After Fleeing Muslim Reality Show
The first Muslim elected to Congress, Rep. Keith Ellison, condemns Lowe’s for caving to anti-Muslim groups in this Chicago Tribune story.

Conyers Says Lowe’s Has ‘Un-American Values’
Rep. John Conyers, who represents the Dearborn community where the series is filmed, expresses his disappointment in Lowe’s. 

Video: CAIR Director on Lowe’s ‘All-American Muslim’ Controversy
CAIR’s director tells Channel 9 News Now that Lowe’s decision to pull advertising makes way for Muslim hatred to grow among Americans. 

25 Dumbest Comments On Lowe’s Facebook Page About “All-American Muslim”
Buzzfeed.com provides examples of the absurd bigotry that plagued comments on Lowe’s original Facebook post.

Muslims, Supporters Mobilize Against Lowes For TLC Ad Pull
MuslimMatters.org reports on the creation of the #LowesHatesMuslims hashtag on Twitter and ongoing commentary against Lowe’s decision on Twitter.

Don’t Cave to Anti-Muslim Bullies
This is an online petition form to tell Lowe’s CEO to reinstate the ads on “All-American Muslim.”

Lowe’s in Facebook Hell as Racist Comments Pile Up
Adweek reports on the Facebook controversy, providing a handful of examples of the anti-Muslim comments. 

Americans Should Know to Boycott Bigotry
An online opinion column for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette discusses Americans’ “cultural amnesia” toward Muslims and their contributions to modern society.

Russell Simmons Buys ‘All-American Muslim’ Ad Time Abandoned by Lowe’s
Metrotimes’ blog post discusses how the hip-hop mogul bought up Lowe’s space and is calling for a boycott of the company.

Protest Lowe’s Anti-Muslim Bigotry in Gaithersburg, MD
A Facebook event is being held to rally Lowe’s protesters Sunday in one Maryland town.

Lowe’s Faces Backlash Over Pulling Ads From ‘All-American Muslim’
The Los Angeles Times reports that California Sen. Ted Lieu urged Lowe’s to reverse its “bigoted” and “un-American” decision and actress Mia Farrow urged a boycott of Lowe’s via Twitter.

The post Lowe’s Muslim Publicity Gaffe Serves as Case Study of What Not to Do appeared first on DiversityInc.