The annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is now available for download. Read it here.
The results? 195 companies received a perfect score -- a 41% increase from 2007. 15 of these companies appeared in the CEI for the first time.
Wal-mart slipped from 65% last year to 40% in 2008. Why? In response to conservative critics, Wal-mart no longer supports GLBT organizations. Their new stance is to not to "support or oppose highly controversial issues." Read more about Wal-mart's GLBT policies here.
The worst:
- Meijer - 0%
- Exxon Mobil - 0%
- Perot Systems Corp - 0%
As most of us know, Congress has been having hearings about the recent toxic toy recalls. They've summoned Toys "R" Us and Mattel, which makes sense: Toys "R" Us sells 18% of the toys in the United States and Mattel is one of the largest toy distibutors in the U.S. (notice I said "distributor" and not "manufacturer." Like most companies these days, Mattel can't afford to manufacture their own toys cheap enough to sell to Wal-mart; so they outsource to Chinese factories, who outsource to other factories, etc.)
Why wasn't Wal-mart asked to be a part of the toxic toys hearings? They sell more toys in the U.S. than Toys "R" Us does; in fact, they almost sell twice as many toys. Wal-mart sells 30% of the countries toys vs. 18% at Toys "R" Us. So why wasn't Wal-mart a part of the hearings? One word: lobbying.
Read more about Wal-mart & the Congressional Safety hearings here.
Curious about the relationship between China and Wal-mart? Read more here.
Wal-mart pulled the plug on donations to gay-friendly organizations due to a threatened boycott by Conservative Christian groups. (article here)
Not that I want the evil Wal-mart empire linked to homosexuality, but you have to admit it could solve the nation's Wal-mart problems. Think about it. Most of Wal-mart's "followers" are in the southern states; most of the Conservative Christian groups are in the southern states. There could be a huge drop in Wal-mart's sales (and thus profits) if a right-wing boycott is put into place.
So, how can we create the sodomy-discount store connection?
Have the Pride parade run through the Wal-mart cosmetic section? No, there are too many toothless distractions to keep the parade on route.
Create a fake news story about Sam Walton's gay affair with a young Strom Thurmond? INGENIOUS! Someone get Katie Couric on the phone... she'll do anything for a ratings boost right now.
StopCorporateAbuse.org has announced the results for the Corporate Hall of Shame 2007.
This year's "Winners" are:
- ExxonMobil
- Halliburton
- Wal-mart
...and people still wonder why I have an issue with Wal-mart.
Check out the flyer entitled "
Wal-mart's Political Profits" and draw your own conclusions.
Gay Rights:
- Isaiah Washington's contract isn't renewed by Grey's Anatomy. I guess homophobia isn't as popular as it once was... Bye, Bye, Burke! (article here)
- Domestic Partner Tax Reform was introduced to the Senate this week to provide the same tax treatment to Domestic Partnership Insurance as is given to Spouse insurance. (article here)
- Maine passed legislation changing the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to allow gay and lesbian workers to take time off to care for a sick child or partner. Go, Maine! (article here)
- A Nashville, TN teacher gets suspended for equating calling something "gay" to using the N word. (article here)
- HRC, Truth Wins Out, Soulforce, and gay medical groups call for the rejection of Bush's nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. James Holsinger. Could it be because Holsinger thinks gays can be "cured" with religion? (article here)
- Gen. Peter Pace, the man who called homosexuals "immoral," will be replaced as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (article here)
Politics & Activism:- Democrats want a law against voter deception. It seems organizations have been telling people the wrong day or place to vote, saying voting if you have outstanding traffic tickets could get you arrested, etc. Most of these deceptive practices were targeted to minorities and lower income persons, people who typically don't vote Republican. (article here)
- A British arms company secretly payed in excess of $1.5 billion over a decade to Saudi Prince Bander bin Sultan in connection with a defense contract. (article here)
- It is suspected that the U.S. imprisoned and interrogated some of its top terrorism suspects in jails in Poland and Romania between 2003 and 2005. Both countries are dependent on U.S. support for their strategic development. (article here)
- Wal-mart admits to selling counterfeit products. (article here)
Nazism in American Government:
