Corporate United States bowed to the growing power of the gay rights movement last week when the country’s largest private employer banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
The expansion of Wal-Mart’s equal opportunities policy to cover sexual orientation was the second victory for the gay rights movement in a week, after the Supreme Court abolished a law in Texas against sodomy.
The new policy was hailed as a signal victory in a country where it remains legal in 37 of the 50 states to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, and where Congress has for ten years delayed a bill that would extend such rights.
The news highlights the divide between the growing acceptance of gays and lesbians in middle America, and the refusal of politicians to acknowledge it because of the ascendancy of Christian conservatives.
”We have no federal laws protecting people from discrimination in the workplace, so this kind of policy change is critically important for us,” said Kim Mills, education director for the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign.
”In polls, 80% of Americans believe there should not be discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation, and corporate America has really played a leading role in addressing this. It has been ahead of the legislature and the courts.”
There could be no more quintessentially middle American company than Wal-Mart, which covers up some women’s magazines at the checkout because of provocative headlines, and will not sell CDs with sexually explicit lyrics.
It was persuaded to change by its own employees and a two-year lobbying effort led by four gay and ethical investment organisations, including the London-based Isis Asset Management. The four firms, which together control $100-billion of investments, bought holdings in Wal-Mart and then held meetings with senior executives.
The company’s new policy was sent to its 1,1-million employees at 3 500 outlets this week.
”Clearly stating our policy of respect helps us compete for talented people who otherwise might not feel comfortable,” the company said yesterday. — Â