By Barbara Frankel
For the 14th year in a row, ExxonMobil shareholders have defeated a resolution to ban discrimination against LGBT employees and offer equal benefits. The top company in the Fortune 500, which earned almost $45 billion last year (its second-most-profitable year), is very clear in its lack of regard for LGBT employees.
ExxonMobil shareholders voted by a 4-to-1 margin to reject a resolution proposed by a New York State retirement fund. The resolution argued that the company discriminates because it refuses to offer spousal benefits to employees in same-gender relationships, even if they are legally married, as they now can be in New York. George Wong, an official for the New York State Comptroller’s office, stated that lack of LGBT support hurts the fund’s recruitment efforts.
