American Airlines, Levi Strauss, Microsoft, Orbitz, Replacements, Starwood Hotels, Symantec, and Wells Fargo Say Enough is Enough

Corporations to State Lawmakers: Stop the Harmful Attacks on LGBT People

Human Rights Campaign launches list of corporations opposed to anti-LGBT legislation being considered in states around the country

WASHINGTON - March 31, 2015 – Today, major corporations signed on to launch a statement by businesses speaking out against an onslaught of anti-LGBT legislation being considered in states around the country. The statement, launched today by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, calls on public officials to defeat or abandon efforts to enact these harmful pieces of legislation. Other corporations are expected to sign on to the growing list in the coming days, reflecting an ever increasing momentum to stop these bills.

In a Sunday op-ed for The Washington Post, Apple CEO Tim Cook decried pro-discrimination laws as dangerous and called on business leaders to speak up. Joining Cook in calling out these laws are long time supporters of equality: American Airlines, Inc.; Apple, Inc.; Levi Strauss & Co; Microsoft Corp.; Orbitz Worldwide; Replacements, Ltd; ​Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; Symantec Corporation; and Wells Fargo & Company.

“Business leaders have made it abundantly clear that these anti-LGBT bills undermine their core values and set dangerous precedents that stifle investment and economic growth,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Anti-equality lawmakers who value corporate investments in their state should sit up, pay attention, and abandon these bills attacking LGBT people.”

STATEMENT FROM AMERICAN BUSINESSES OPPOSED TO ANTI-LGBT LEGISLATION

“Corporate leaders are speaking out against bills that could allow individuals and businesses to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and other minorities — several versions of which are actively being considered in states across the country.

This proposed legislation is bad for business.

• Equality in the workplace is a business priority to foster talent and innovation, and these state laws undermine this core value.
• These state laws set a dangerous precedent that stifles investment and economic growth by jeopardizing a state’s status as a welcoming place for employees to live and thrive, undermining the success of a business at large.
• It is unreasonable for job creators to recruit a diverse workforce from states that encourage businesses to discriminate against our community of employees or consumers.
• While these bills won’t alter our commitment to equality in the workplace, this legislation sends the wrong message about the states in which we operate and threatens our core corporate commitment to respect all individuals.

We the undersigned call for public officials to defeat or abandon efforts to enact this type of harmful legislation.”

• American Airlines, Inc.
• Apple, Inc.
• Levi Strauss & Co
• Microsoft Corp.
• Orbitz Worldwide
• Replacements, Ltd
• ​Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
• Symantec Corporation
• Wells Fargo & Company

Corporations who wish to sign on can find further information at http://goo.gl/gKEic2

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.