If you can’t make the big ExxonMobil protest outside the Meyerson next Wednesday, or even if you can, be sure to sign the online petition that GetEQUAL plans to deliver to the company’s shareholders. Here’s what it says:
To the Shareholders of ExxonMobil:
In the ’90s, Mobil had a progressive Equal Employment Opporutnity (EEO) policy, specifically prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Mobil also extended benefits to domestic partners of employees. But after the merger with Exxon in the late 90s, you rescinded both of these policies.
In a recent letter, your Vice President of Investor Relations said this:
“Where we [ExxonMobil] operate in countries in which the national laws require specific language regarding nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity be included in policies, we have amended our policies as appropriate.”
That means that you only plan to do the right thing if the government makes you. We’ve been working for more than 30 years to pass a federal law for workplace protections for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. We’re very close to making that happen, but you shouldn’t wait for a federal law to re-enact your company’s nondiscrimination policy.
We, the undersigned, stand with LGBT employees of ExxonMobil – and all LGBT working people in this country – demanding that you include gender identity and sexual orientation in your company’s EEO statement.
Demanding. Did you hear that EXXON? We are DEMANDING.
That’s the new strategy – make demands. Who knew it was so easy?