TENNESSEE: Major Corporations Back Off Bill Banning All LGBT Rights Laws

TENNESSEE: Major Corporations Back Off Bill Banning All LGBT Rights Laws

Following the launch of a protest campaign by AmericaBlog Gay, several major corporations have denounced Tennessee's pending bill which would ban all local LGBT rights laws. The bill was backed by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, where the companies below sit on its board of directors. Via HRC:

Alcoa:
“Alcoa provides equal employment opportunity without discrimination and supports state and local legislation protecting the rights of all community members. We do not agree with the chamber on this issue and would ask that the governor veto the bill."

FedEx:
“FedEx values and promotes the unique contributions, perspectives, and differences of our team members worldwide. FedEx does not tolerate discrimination of any kind, and is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. FedEx did not lobby for SB632/HB600 – it is our policy not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. While FedEx is a member of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, we do not support every position proposed by the Chamber.”

AT&T:
“AT&T does not support any laws or efforts that are discriminatory. AT&T does support the principals of ensuring that state and local laws are consistent, which is the stated purpose of HB 600/SB 632. However, the bill has become implicated in efforts to erode the rights of the gay community, which we do not support. AT&T has a long history and longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, and its policies address diversity in areas including race, creed, religion, sex, and particularly sexual orientation."

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2011/05/tennessee-major-corporations-back-off.html

I am not a corporate defender. But this seems so much an attitude change. It's the difference between "those people" and "our people."

--imm

what happened. I can tell you as someone who came from what was then a Big 6 and now a big 4 firm that these companies (Deloitte, PwC, KPMG and Earnst) jealously guard their image as not just diverse and inclusive but genuinely welcome to minorities and the GLBT community.

I'll bet you that the KPMG partners in charge of diversity are completely freaking out as to how the firm got associated with this. They are probably trying to figure out how to fix this somehow. Sadly, since the bill has passed the legislature, I am not sure they CAN fix their involvement. Whatever KPMG folks sit on the Tennessee COC board are probably facing the wrath of the senior partners as we speak.

Still, we all need to hear from them and soon.

On Edit: As a former PwC'er, I hope the partners at PwC are taking advantage of this to steal business from KPMG in terms of firms that are GLBT owned and managed.

"We didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition!"

They are all on the board of directors for the Tenn. Chamber of Commerce...which enthusiastically supported this bill.
Until they retracted their support- less than an hour before the Governor signed it.

They all have to explain why, if they are so pro-gay, the Chamber they basically run supported it.