ExxonMobil's gay problem : The world's largest oil company is under fire for refusing to specifically prohibit discrimination against gays in its employment policy / Marc Gunther

M. Gunther

While much of corporate America has embraced gay rights - by promising not to discriminate against gay workers and offering domestic partner benefits - the world's largest oil company has steadfastly resisted pressures to become more gay-friendly. ExxonMobil has been boycotted by gay rights groups, peppered with angry phone calls, criticized in gay-oriented consumer guides and pressured by shareholder resolutions - all to no avail. To be sure, Exxon Mobil says that it does not discriminate against gay and lesbian workers or, for that matter, anyone else. Nor have its critics brought forward evidence that the company has refused to hire gay people, or treated gay workers unfairly. But because ExxonMobil has repeatedly declined to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in its written employment policy, its shareholders will vote for the eighth year in a row on whether the company should do so.