“Use of a voter initiative to promote democratic self-governance cannot save a law like Proposition 8 that would otherwise violate equal protection,” read the brief. “Prejudice may not, however, be the basis for differential treatment under the law.”

“[Same-gender couples] establish homes and lives together, support each other financially, share the joys and burdens of raising children, and provide care through illness and comfort at the moment of death,” the administration wrote.

The Obama administration’s brief follows a similar pro-same-gender-marriage motion filed earlier this week by more than 200 corporations. Legal experts say that the briefs, although not legally binding, could help sway the Supreme Court ruling of the case, reports USA Today.

Theodore Boutrous, a partner in the law firm Gibson Dunn, which is representing the two same-sex couples who filed the case initially, said the administration’s arguments represent “a clear path to marriage equality across the United States.”

The court filing completes President Obama’s self-described evolution on gay marriage and puts his administration squarely on the side of gay rights groups and the nine states where same-sex marriage is legal.

The Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit LGBT-rights organization, hailed the President’s actions. “The Obama administration has filed a historic court brief arguing that California’s Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. This is a historic step forward in the civil rights battle of our generation—and shows yet again that having the most pro-equality president in history is a game-changer,” reads an entry in HRC’s blog.

The organization also urges gay-rights supporters to fill out this form to thank President Obama “for his bold leadership, for putting the words of his inspirational inaugural address into action, and for opposing marriage discrimination.”

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the Proposition 8 case on March 26, while the Defense of Marriage Act case, a separate ban also under review for being “unconstitutional,” will be argued on March 27. Rulings on both cases are expected by the end of June.

The post Obama to Court: Overturn Prop 8, Gays & Lesbians Deserve Right to Marry appeared first on DiversityInc.

More than 200 corporations also have filed a separate brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn DOMA. These companies include: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Ernst & Young, Exelon, Johnson & Johnson, Marriott International, MassMutual, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Microsoft, New York Life, The Ogilvy Group, Pfizer, State Street Corporation, Xerox and The Walt Disney Company.

The Republicans’ brief presents the Supreme Court justices with a detailed argument about the discrimination Prop 8 and DOMA inflict. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear cases on Prop 8 and DOMA legislation starting next week, with a final decision expected before the summer. The rulings on these two major cases could impact nationally the definition of marriage and same-gender couples’ right to wed, as previously reported by DiversityInc. Both legislations define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Legal experts say the brief could help sway conservative Supreme Court justices in favor of striking down the same-gender-marriage bans, especially in light of the prominent names on the list. These include:

• Theodore B. Olson, Solicitor General under President George W. Bush and co-counsel in the Prop 8 lawsuit
• Meg Whitman, former Prop 8 supporter and one-time candidate for Governor of California who now is the President and CEO of HP
• Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Florida)
• Congressman Richard Hanna (New York)
• Stephen J. Hadley, National Security Adviser under Bush
• Carlos Gutierrez, Commerce Secretary under Bush and former Chairman and CEO of Kellogg Company
• James B. Comey, Deputy Attorney General under Bush
• David A. Stockman, Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Ronald Reagan
• Deborah Pryce, former eight-term Congresswoman and Chair of the House Republican Conference

“We are trying to say to the court that we are judicial and political conservatives, and it is consistent with our values and philosophy for you to overturn Proposition 8,” Ken Mehlman, former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, told The New York Times. Mehlman, who is out as gay, serves on the board of the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

There have been sweeping changes in public attitudes toward same-gender unions in the past few years—49 percent of Americans now agree that states should allow same-sex marriage, according to a Pew Research Center poll. This is up from just 39 percent in 2008.

The post 100+ GOP Leaders, 200+ Corporations Support Same-Gender Marriage appeared first on DiversityInc.

“My attitude is that gays and lesbians should have access and opportunity the same way everybody else does, in every institution and walk of life,” Obama said, noting that the Boy Scouts provides young people opportunities and leadership and that “nobody should be barred from that.”

Boy Scouts to Lift Gay Ban?

Corporate pressure from companies such as Ernst & Young, AT&T and Merck & Co. certainly contributed to the Boy Scouts of America’s apparent decision to end its ban on gay scouts and troop leaders, with a formal announcement expected as early as next week. The new policy would leave membership decisions up to the Boy Scouts’ 290 local councils and 116,000 sponsors, which are comprised of religious and civic groups.

“The Boy Scouts of America have heard from scouts, corporations and millions of Americans that discriminating against gay scouts and scout leaders is wrong,” said Herndon Graddick, President of GLAAD, an advocacy group for LGBTs. “Scouting is a valuable institution, and this change will only strengthen its core principles of fairness and respect.”

“Last year Scouting realized the policy caused some volunteers and chartered organizations … to act in conflict with their missions, principles or religious beliefs,” said Boy Scouts of America spokesperson Deron Smith. “It’s important to note this policy would not require any chartered organization to act in ways inconsistent with that organization’s mission, principles or religious beliefs.”

Change of Heart?

However, many news sources say the Boy Scouts’ sudden reversal is less about conflicting missions—after all, the policy had been in place since before the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality in 2000—and more about societal pressure to shift toward more inclusive practices.

The announcement comes just seven months after Boy Scouts of America was slammed nationally for reaffirming its anti-gay membership policy after nearly two years of examination, and just one month after Merck & Co ended its funding to the Boy Scouts.

In addition to continual chiding from the public, Boy Scouts of America evoked strong reactions from senior executives and other diversity leaders at top corporations—in particular, Ernst & Young Chairman and CEO Jim Turley and AT&T Chairman, CEO and President Randall Stephenson, who are both BSA board members. Turley very publicly urged the Boy Scouts to reconsider the policy to better reflect the times; the Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs and the U.S. military all have policies of inclusion.

“I support the meaningful work of the Boy Scouts in preparing young people for adventure, leadership, learning and service. However, the membership policy is not one I would personally endorse,” Turley said last June. “As I have done in leading Ernst & Young to being a most inclusive organization, I intend to continue to work from within the BSA board to actively encourage dialogue and sustainable progress.”

Ernst & Young is No. 6 in the DiversityInc Top 50 and No. 4 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees. AT&T is No. 4 in the DiversityInc Top 50 and No. 8 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees. Merck & Co. is No. 16 in the DiversityInc Top 50. All three companies have a 100 percent rating on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign, which designates those organizations demonstrating workplace equality for LGBT employees.

The post Obama Joins Corporate Outcry Against Boy Scouts’ Gay Ban appeared first on DiversityInc.

The findings resonate with recent news of a class-action lawsuit ruling, in Collins v. United States, that requires the Pentagon to reimburse $2.5 million in severance pay to the 181 gay and lesbian service members who had been targeted and discharged under the policy. The regulation dictated that all service members who were forced to leave military service because of their orientation were penalized half of their allotted severance pay—leaving them just $14,000 each. Normally, discharged military members would receive $28,000 in compensation.

Under terms of the settlement of the lawsuit, which was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Service Members Legal Defense Network (SLDN), the government will award $14,000 to each plaintiff who was involuntarily dismissed, both honorably and dishonorably, because of DADT.

“This means so much to those of us who dedicated ourselves to the military, only to be forced out against our will for being who we are,” said Richard Collins, a former Air Force staff sergeant and lead plaintiff. “We gave all we had to our country, and just wanted the same dignity and respect for our service as any other veterans.” Collins served his country for nine years prior to being discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Collins had been seen kissing his boyfriend off-base.

“There was absolutely no need to subject these service members to a double dose of discrimination by removing them from the armed forces in the first place, and then denying them this small benefit to ease the transition to civilian life,” said Laura Schauer Ives, an ACLU lawyer.

History of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy went into effect in December 1993 under the Clinton Administration. It stated that military applicants could not be asked about their sexual orientation. DADT was introduced in Congress as a compromise to the regulations from Ronald Reagan’s 1982 defense directive that stated that all military personnel who engaged in sexual acts with people of the same gender or who said that they were gay or lesbian would be discharged.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed in May 2012 under the Obama Administration.

The post Who Was Most Hurt By ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’? Black Women appeared first on DiversityInc.

The law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender minors from all forms of “reparative” and conversion treatment—mental-health therapies that aim to “resolve” individuals’ gay attractions. Treatments range from noninvasive counseling to more traumatic forms of shock therapy and exorcism and can cause emotional damage, according to Huffington Post.

“These practices have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery,” Brown said as he marked yet another historic moment for gay-rights progress this year.

However, some medical professionals and religious leaders feel that the bill infringes on the First Amendment, and they plan to file a lawsuit. This includes the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality and the Pacific Justice Institute.

Dr. Marcus Bachmann, husband to the GOP’s Michelle Bachmann and a well-known anti-gay counselor, surprisingly has yet to voice an opinion on the bill. However, we’re expecting him to jump on the pro-gay-cure bandwagon any day now; his mental health and counseling clinic, Bachmann & Associates, received nearly $173,000 dollars from federal faith-based programs to convert gays to heterosexuals through prayer. These “barbarians need to be educated … disciplined,” he told one radio outlet.

Do you think the ban is legal? Will other states follow California’s lead? Share your thoughts below, and be sure to read these articles for more on LGBT issues:

The 2012 DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees

7 Things NEVER to Say to LGBT Coworkers

Where’s the Pipeline of LGBT Talent? Why We Need to Support Gay Youth

How Can Corporations Support Same-Sex Marriage?

The post Gay-Cure Ban Stops ‘Quackery’ Therapy appeared first on DiversityInc.

Wells Fargo has a long history of outreach to the LGBT community, but recently the company has developed an Accredited Domestic Partner Advisor program to specifically help LGBT people with their unique financial situations. Watch the video and view the presentation slides below.

Kyle Young is a certified financial planner and vice president, investment officer, for Wells Fargo (No. 33 in the 2012 DiversityInc Top 50).

View all the DiversityInc Innovation Fest! presentations.

Click here to download a PDF of this presentation. You can also expand the slideshow.

The post Same-Gender Financial Crisis? You Must Watch This appeared first on DiversityInc.

The string of victories achieved by LGBT-rights advocates in 2010 and 2011 continues. Within just the first two months of 2012, a California court struck down the Proposition 8 ban against same-sex marriage, Maryland has legalized same-sex marriage and legislation for same-sex marriage licenses is pending in Washington state. All of this follows a historic 2011 announcement by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that a new U.S. policy will allow for more specific action against countries that do not support LGBT equality.

Click the images below to download a PDF, or click these links to expand: LGBT Pride Timeline and LGBT Fact & Figures.

 LGBT PRIDE TIMELINE 

1828: The term “crime against nature” is coined in the U.S. Criminal Code

1867: “Father of the LGBT Movement” Karl-Heinrich Ulrichs is the first to speak out for gay rights

1892: First use of “bisexual” appears in Charles Gilbert Chaddock’s translation of Richard von Krafft-Ebing’s Psychopathia Sexualis

1924: The Society for Human Rights, the first gay-rights organization in the United States, is founded. It is shut down by police within a few months

1955: The Daughters of Bilitis, the first national U.S. lesbian organization, is formed

1962: Illinois becomes the first state to decriminalize homosexual acts

1966: The National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations is formed

1969: Stonewall riots in New York gain national attention for gay rights

1970: First Gay Liberation Day March is held in New York City; similar events are held in Los Angeles and San Francisco

1973: The American Psychiatric Association removes “homosexuality” definition as a mental disorder

1975: Minneapolis becomes the first city to protect transgender people by law from discrimination

1978: Rainbow flag is first used as symbol of gay pride

1979: First national gay-rights march is held in Washington, D.C.

1980: David McReynolds becomes the first openly LGBT person to run for president

1982: Wisconsin is the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

1983: Rep. Gerry Studds (Mass.) becomes the first openly gay member of Congress

1989: Denmark becomes the first country to legalize same-sex partnerships

1993: “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy allows gays/lesbians to serve in the U.S. military as long as they are closeted
Minnesota passes the first state-wide law prohibiting discrimination against transgender people

1996: Supreme Court says protections for gays/lesbians are civil rights guaranteed to all U.S. citizens

2000: Vermont becomes first state to legally recognize civil unions for gays and lesbians
President Bill Clinton names June Gay and Lesbian Pride Month

2003: Supreme Court rules sodomy laws unconstitutional in Lawrence v. Texas

2004: Massachusetts legalizes same-sex marriage

2005: Civil unions become legal in Connecticut

2006: Civil unions become legal in New Jersey

2007: DiversityInc requires domestic-partner benefits as a prerequisite to make The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list (read our Methodology)

2008: 

• Diego Sanchez is appointed top legislative assistant to Rep. Barney Frank, making him the first transgender staff member on Capitol Hill
• California’s State Supreme Court allows gay marriage; Proposition 8 then eliminates it
• Connecticut legalizes same-sex marriage

2009: 

• President Barack Obama signs a law extending existing federal hate-crime laws to include those committed on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity
• President Obama renames June as LGBT Pride Month
• Iowa and Vermont legalize same-sex marriage

2010:

• Federal court declares California’s Prop. 8 unconstitutional
• The District of Columbia and New Hampshire legalize same-sex marriage
• President Obama signs law to end “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy

2011: 

• The Respect for Marriage Act is filed in U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to repeal DOMA and end federal discrimination against legally married same-sex couples
• New York legalizes same-sex marriage
• President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announce policy for more specific actions against countries that do not move to create LGBT equality

2012:

• The Human Rights Campaign assigns more stringent qualifications for ranking as a best place to work for LGBT employees on its Corporate Equality Index, with an emphasis on benefits for transgender employees
• Proposition 8 in California is ruled unconstitutional, but ruling is expected to go to U.S. Supreme Court
• Maryland and Washington state legalize same-sex marriage
• Ellen DeGeneres is named jcpenney spokesperson; CEO Ron Johnson supports her—and her strong values—despite protests from group calling itself “One Million Moms”
• A Boston court ruled the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional

Sources: Catalyst, National Women’s History Project

The post LGBT Facts & Figures appeared first on DiversityInc.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, in a unanimous and bipartisan decision, ruled that the federal law defining legal marriage as only between a man and a woman deprives same-sex couples of the same rights heterosexual couples have when receiving federal benefits, including filing joint federal tax returns.

The court did not address the controversial issue of whether states that have not approved same-sex marriages must recognize them.

Read history and facts about DOMA from the Human Rights Campaign.

Obama & Black Community Support

The momentum on this issue shifted dramatically last month when President Barack Obama finally publicly declared his support of same-sex marriage. To further support that announcement, the Justice Department did not intercede in the Boston decision in favor of DOMA, as it has done in the past.

What’s important in the days since Obama’s declaration is the growing support of same-sex marriage in the Black community. The NAACP, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and other Black leaders have come out in support of marriage equality.

“I’m particularly heartened by the announcement from the NAACP. There’s a new realization that we’re all in this together and that nobody should be discriminated against,” says retired U.S. Navy Captain Joan Darrah, a former board member of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Darrah was a leader in the fight to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the military and is part of a continuing legal battle to give partners of gay and lesbian service members equal military benefits.

Darrah sees the momentum shifting on the federal level, although she thinks it could be a long battle to get some states—including Virginia, where she lives with her partner—to change.

Creating an Inclusive Culture

If your organization isn’t supportive of equality for everyone, here are some tips garnered from the DiversityInc Top 50 on how to build an inclusive workplace.

• Require cultural-competence diversity training. Mandatory training that includes factual, educational information on LGBT groups is a must. Eighty-six percent of The 2012 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity now require diversity training for their managers, compared with 78 percent five years ago. Sixty-eight percent require diversity training for their entire workforces, compared with 58 percent five years ago. Read DiversityInc’s LGBT Pride Facts & Figures, which you can use for educational purposes. Click here information on our diversity-training courses.
• Use your resource groups to create more inclusive workplaces. Your LGBT resource group is a great start. Make sure its name includes the word “friends,” “allies” or “straight” so people who are not LGBT or are not out are comfortable joining. Ensure that members of this resource group are included in prominent roles in company events and publications, that they meet frequently with senior leaders, and that they set up company-wide educational programs. Read Our Analysis of the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.
• Maintain a “no-tolerance-for-bigotry” policy for everyone. Core diversity-management values are essential to an organization, emanating from the very top. Those values must include an absolute adherence to diversity and inclusion for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religious background, disability and, especially, orientation. Read Diversity Management 101 and The Four Stages of Diversity Management.

–Barbara Frankel

The post Ruling Against Defense of Marriage Act Is Major Diversity Victory appeared first on DiversityInc.

The Obama administration’s shift in policy to support LGBT rights globally is a significant human-rights victory that will have long-term repercussions for companies doing business abroad. It is particularly relevant in countries where LGBT people must remain closeted for fear of ostracism, prison or even death.

The announcement, which came yesterday in a speech by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Human Rights Day and a memorandum from President Barack Obama, sets the stage for a more specific series of U.S. actions for countries that do not move to create equality for LGBT people. Although her speech was short on details, she did say that the administration would use the “tools of American diplomacy,” including the promise of foreign aid, to encourage countries to be inclusive. She mentioned reporting LGBT abuses in the State Department report and a $3-million fund to work with LGBT organizations globally.

These may seem like small steps initially but they are the harbinger of a changing governmental attitude about LGBT rights that mirrors the inclusivity of several leading corporations. In the United States, several corporations on The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list have led the way in establishing domestic-partner benefits and advocating for same-sex marriage and the end of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. For more, read How Can Corporations Support Same-Sex Marriage?

Globally, a handful of companies, led by IBM, have been working to create a more inclusive workplace, especially in some Asian countries where being openly LGBT destroys not only careers but lives as well. The companies have done this by including orientation in mission statements and cultural-competence training, publicly stating their support for LGBT rights, and creating LGBT employee-resource groups wherever possible. IBM received DiversityInc’s award last month as the Top Company for Global Cultural Competence.

DiversityInc recently completed its 2011 Global Diversity survey of 17 countries in Europe, Asia and the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China). The survey found that, overall, European countries were more inclusive for LGBT rights, and several have legalized same-sex marriage. Asian countries gener­ally ignore LGBT issues culturally. The most egregious is Malaysia, in which “homosexuality” is against the law and cannot be mentioned.

This has presented significant challenges for companies doing business in Malaysia and other countries that do not recognize LGBT rights. As one of our survey respondents noted about Malaysia: “Malaysia still retains its colonial-era penal code criminalizing sodomy, and fundamentalist Islamic nations have a heavy influence on the nation’s laws, politics, cultural norms and societal attitudes, especially LGBT.” And another bluntly stated:  “Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia. We cannot work on this topic.”

The companies we surveyed, most of which have their corporate headquarters in the United States, take more proactive approaches to LGBT inclusiveness in the European countries. For example, sexual orientation is mentioned in the local country’s diversity and inclusion strategy in 31 percent of the European countries, compared with 17 percent of the Asian countries and 22 percent of the BRIC countries. By contrast, it is included in 100 percent of the diversity policies of U.S. companies on The 2011 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list. And while 17 percent of the companies in the European countries have public relationships with LGBT organizations there, only 2 percent of the Asian and 10 percent of the BRIC countries do. Again, 100 percent of the DiversityInc Top 50 companies in the United States have public relations with LGBT organizations, such as GLSEN, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), PFLAG and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

The key here is that progressive corporations usually lead the way in changing both governmental and societal perceptions of inequities. As the U.S. government shifts to a more activist position on LGBT rights, the timing is perfect for companies with global presences to be outspoken and directed in their efforts.

For more information on our global survey and our upcoming 2012 global survey, click here.

Here is media coverage of Clinton’s speech and responses from LGBT organizations:

U.S. to Aid Gay Rights Abroad, Obama and Clinton Say
The New York Times reporters in Geneva and Washington, D.C., provide firsthand reporting of the pro-LGBT-rights initiative announced yesterday by the Obama administration and the potential backlash.

Hillary Clinton calls on world not to discriminate against gays
In this Los Angeles Times article, Clinton is cited as linking gay rights to other social-equality issues, such as women’s rights, racial equality and religious freedom.

Hillary Clinton On Gay Rights Abroad: Secretary Of State Delivers Historic LGBT Speech In Geneva
The Huffington Post provides a full-length transcript and video of Clinton’s address in Geneva. 

Sec. Clinton: LGBT Rights Are Human Rights
HRC President Joe Solmonese met with Clinton in Geneva prior to her speech. He shares his thoughts on the initiative.

NGLCC Co-Founders Attend Historic United Nations Speech by Secretary of State Clinton
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce leaders provide their reactions to Clinton’s speech and global LGBT equality.

Hillary Clinton Attacks Anti-Gay Hate Crimes
The New Civil Rights Movement provides Clinton’s prepared remarks on LGBT rights from the conference in Geneva that celebrated International Human Rights Day.

The Arcus Foundation Announces Support of Global LGBT Initiatives Announced by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
The global foundation, which is aimed at advancing social justice, announces its support of global LGBT equality.

The post What Clinton’s Global LGBT-Rights Speech Means for Your Company appeared first on DiversityInc.

“While I firmly believe that a business climate conducive to growth is critical to our future, I realize our decision affected many of you in a way I did not anticipate, and for that I am genuinely sorry,” wrote Steinhafel.

While campaign finance laws allow corporate political spending—and Target initially defended its position, saying it “seek[s] to advance policies aligned with our business objectives, such as job creation and economic growth”—the company’s support of Emmer runs counter to its commitment to diversity.

Target is No. 40 on The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list and holds a 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. It also offers domestic-partner benefits (a DiversityInc Top 50 requirement), distributes $3 million each week to philanthropic programs nationwide and has sponsored Twin Cities Pride.

Despite its reputation, this firestorm highlights the potential risks companies face when mixing business and politics and will illustrate how far companies must go to “make good.”

Here’s the full letter, posted on Target.com:

Message From Gregg Steinhafel, Chairman, President and CEO – 8/5/2010
Dear Target Leaders,
I have heard from many of you, and our team members, over the past week regarding Target’s contribution to MN Forward, and I appreciate your engagement and candor, both of which clearly demonstrate your loyalty and passion for our company.

In situations like this, it is often difficult to find the right words, but I would like to respond with the same honesty you have shown me.

The intent of our political contribution to MN Forward was to support economic growth and job creation. While I firmly believe that a business climate conducive to growth is critical to our future, I realize our decision affected many of you in a way I did not anticipate, and for that I am genuinely sorry.

We remain fully committed to fostering an environment that supports and respects the rights and beliefs of all individuals. The diversity of our team is an important aspect of our unique culture and our success as a company, and we did not mean to disappoint you, our team or our valued guests.

Going forward, we will soon begin a strategic review and analysis of our decision-making process for financial contributions in the public policy arena. And later this fall, Target will take a leadership role in bringing together a group of companies and partner organizations for a dialogue focused on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, including GLBT issues.

Thank you for sharing your input and for your continued commitment to making Target an even stronger company.

Sincerely,
Gregg Steinhafel
Chairman, President and CEO

Reactions to Steinhafel’s apology:

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese: “We appreciate Mr. Steinhafel’s statement to company employees this afternoon but it doesn’t go quite far enough. Target’s apology is welcomed but without tangible action behind it, the LGBT community and our allies will continue to question the company’s commitment to equality. The promise to evaluate political contributions in the future, while a step in the right direction, is provided without details and does not mitigate their $150,000 supporting an outspoken opponent of equality for LGBT people. Target can still make it right by making equivalent contributions to equality-minded organizations and by making clear the procedure by which they will evaluate potential contributions in the future to include issues of LGBT-equality.” (HRC.org)

Boycott  Arizona Minnesota (BAM!), a group that opposes Arizona’s controversial law SB 1070: “While CEO Gregg Steinhafel wrote employees to say the discount retailer was ‘genuinely sorry’ over the way a $150,000 contribution to MN Forward donation played out, no real steps to correct the situation have taken place. It’s not out of the ordinary for a political contribution to ask for a contribution to be returned … Target should ask for its money back. Sorry doesn’t cut it! We want action!” (The Minnesota Independent)

OutFront Minnesota: “OutFront Minnesota calls on Target to do the right thing and make amends for the damage it has done by taking back its donation to Minnesota Forward, or by donating an equal amount to a political committee or cause of its choice that works to combat the attacks, dehumanization and marginalization of GLBT people, immigrants, and low-income workers represented by Emmer and Minnesota Forward. Emmer stands alone among candidates for governor in opposing equality for GLBT Minnesotans. Target should not stand with him.” (OutFront.org)

A Facebook page promoting a nationwide boycott has gained traction with more than 44,000 fans, but Target is not the only company in support of MN Forward. Six other companies each contributed $100,000: Best Buy, Pentair, Hubbard Broadcasting, Davisco Foods International and Polaris Industries.

The post Target CEO Apologizes for Supporting Anti-Gay Candidate appeared first on DiversityInc.