Exxon rejects gay anti-discrimination policies

PinkNews.co.uk – Marc Shoffman

ExxonMobil shareholders have rejected a resolution seeking the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees in the company?s anti-discrimination policies.

It marks the seventh year that the proposal has been quashed, although a record number of people did voice support for the proposal with 34.6% voting in favour, compared to 29.4% in 2005.

The vote represents around 1.75 billion total shares in favour.

Human Rights Campaign president, Joe Solmonese, said: ?The long-term energy needs of ExxonMobil customers are in no way served by policies that ignore hardworking gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees.

?The company claims it already has this policy, yet it stands alone as the only Fortune 50 company that refuses to write it down. It?s our hope that the company?s new CEO takes this vote as a strong signal to join its competitors, many of whom protect employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation as well as gender identity and allow employees to provide health insurance for their domestic partners.?