EA, Microsoft, GameStop Earn Perfect Scores from Gay Rights Group
EA, Microsoft, GameStop Earn Perfect Scores from Gay Rights Group
September 15, 2008
Game publisher Electronic Arts, Xbox maker Microsoft and leading retailer GameStop are among 259 corporations that have been awarded perfect scores for their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.
The announcement comes by way of advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and is contained in its 2009 Corporate Equity Index. HRC Foundation President Joe Solmonese commented:
The 2009 Corporate Equality Index shows that corporate America understands that a diverse workforce is critical to remaining successful and competitive. In the absence of a federal law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, it is up to employers to take the lead and implement policies that ensure all their employees are protected.
Game-related companies which also received perfect scores include retailers Best Buy and Target; PC manufacturers Dell and HP; chip maker Intel; online auction site Ebay; and search companies Google and Yahoo. Also on the list, Apple, increasingly seeming like an up-and-coming game biz player.
GP: We've been beating on EA and Microsoft of late over a couple of (well-deserved) issues, but must give credit where it is due. Well done!
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Posted 02/09/10 at 01:16pm
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Andrew Eisen: Shouldn't be. Spirit of anti-discrimination laws would seem to include sexual orientation (and eye color). Plus there's always equal protection and such. Never know until you try.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:10pm
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Andrew Eisen: Should have sued (unless that wasn't an option given her financial situation or something). Might have won.
Posted 02/09/10 at 01:00pm
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Valdearg: Story about a Male to Female TG who was expressly told she wouldn't be given a job because she was TG. Its not the main point of the story, but explicit, perfectly legal discrimination like this exists.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:53pm
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Valdearg: Lol, I don't know. It may very well be legal to do so. Though that might able to fall under the "race" restriction, depending on how that point is argued.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Valdearg: I don't think they do have any legal recourse. I'll have to dig around, but I seriously believe that if the law doesn't specifically mention Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, they can still be discriminated against in those 29 states.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:51pm
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Andrew Eisen: Eye color isn't covered either but I doubt it would be considered legal to refuse to hire people with green eyes.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:48pm
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Andrew Eisen: My explanation is longer than the Shoutbox will allow. Suffice to say that while those who are discriminated against do have legal recourse, anti-discrimination law should specifically cite sexual orientation so that there’s no question about it.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:42pm
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Valdearg: "There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; it remains legal in 29 states, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity or expression." From the Human Rights Campaign.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:40pm
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Valdearg: @AE: Why don't you think I'm correct? I know Wiki could be flawed, but as far as it says, its up to date as of June 2009.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:39pm
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Andrew Eisen: I don't think you're right but I really don't know and don't have the time to find out. However things actually are, it's very clear how they actually should be.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:34pm
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Valdearg: "just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal." I would disagree. If there's no laws against it, it makes it perfectly legal. It's definitely not right, but perfectly legal to do.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Valdearg: Meaning in 29 states, private sector discrimination against gays is perfectly legal.. Sickening.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:33pm
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Valdearg: 19 states have no protections, and another 10 only have protections for public sector jobs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:32pm
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Andrew Eisen: Well, most businesses have equal rights policies in place and just because there's no specific state level protection for it, doesn't make discrimination right or legal. Still, no argument against adding such protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Valdearg: More information. Apparently, it's worse than I actually thought.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:28pm
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Valdearg: Check the link. Apparently, its more like 20 states that have no protections.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:26pm
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Andrew Eisen: In the US? Not that I'm aware of. Sad if true.
Posted 02/09/10 at 12:25pm
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
Valdearg: @AE: Actually, I think, at least for now, businesses can still discriminate against gays in a few states.. Something like 5 or 8. Its part of why Gay Rights Advocates are in support of the Employee Nondiscrimination Act, or ENDA.
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Comments
Can't find the word to describe how I feel about this...
Vindicated?
I don't know, maybe I'm immature, but this definitely made me giggle.
EDIT: I mean lol, 'beating on Microsoft'...okay, okay, I'm going...
Call it schadenfreude or whatever, but who got the low scores? Is there anybody out there still treating gay folks like the evil law firm in Philadelphia?
Better question, what does the T stand for in 'LGBT Issues'? Pretty sure I got the L the G and B parts figured out...
I think the T stands for 'Transexuals'.
Transgender i believe
Oh...thanks, I think. :\
Awkwaaaaaaaard...
Er...not that I agree with the mistreatment of people with different "lifestyles," but being transgender is totally wrong, unnatural, yada yada, etc etc. I don't have a problem with gays or lesbos though, just, sorry, but to be frank, freaks that choose to stand out in society like that...
Careful, your inner ignoramus is showing.
Uh... what? If someone comes to realise that who they feel they are in their heart doesn't match what's in their underpants and decides to do something about it, that's "totally wrong"? Get over yourself, seriously. I have several trans friends, and they are some of the bravest and most honest people I know. It takes immense courage and integrity to stop living a lie and be true to yourself like that, especially when the world is full of ignorant people like you.
Aren't we at a point now where people can say "I find that lifestyle choice gross/weird/disturbing but I fully support you in leading it"? Hey, I think blue cheese is disgusting, but I don't judge the people who choose to eat it.
I don't find blue cheese disgusting, but I do not support people who chose to chop their genitalia off and replace them with blue cheese.
But I'm guessing you support transsexuals?
Perhaps you should look into the studies that show Transgendered people are belived to have the brain chemstry of the oposite gender that they were born as. Some kind of mix up in the womb coused them to develop the sex organs of one gender and the brain chemstry of the other. So know what's going on before you speak.
some people have also said that transgenders before surgery have a body dismorphic disorder.
Unnatural? And you're telling thousands of people this through a series of excited atoms? Have some perspective, you jerk.
You know what's really wrong? People assuming they can impose defamatory labels upon someone's sexuality. Just think for a minute: transsexual is how some people define themselves – and discovering one's sexuality is simply realising and accepting an inclination brought about by the natural nerve impulses, hormones etc that govern such things. Is it really right that you accept this from heterosexuals, gays and lesbians but will not allow the same of somebody uncomfortable with their gender? To suggest that a benign facet of the sexual spectrum is not allowed means through which to express its sexuality is just appalling. Shame on you.
Yeah... both are correct, though there's a subtle difference in meaning. It's often written as Lesbian Gay and Transgender/transexual or just "trans."
lol, imagine if Take Two had been given the same award? It would be incontrivertible proof of the conspiracy against Jack Thompson brought about by th gay agenda and the murder simulators!
Gah, don't summon him please. Every time you guys type his name in the GP.com comments section, his religiwarrior sense tingles. And then the trolls come...oh the trolls.
LOL, lately his last line of legal defense seems to be that the "radical gay rights" agenda of the Florida Bar (including the recently deceased hero - and heterosexual) Steve Chaykin) is behind all of his troubles. So, perhaps GP's lauding of these companies showing compassion on this human rights issue will be manage to get lumped in.
It's all a big conspiracy, you see...
*Chaykin drowned while trying to save his wife who fell into a river during a recent vacation to Colorado. Our friend has indicated a desire to sue his estate.
Oh god, i remember reading all those ridiculous filings on jaablog... "They're turning the Florida Bar into the Florida Gay Bar! They're after me because i'm straight!" or something to that affect... did he end up getting banned from there recently? Because i haven't seen him post there over the better half of a week.
Off-topic, i know, but when was the verdict in his case supposed to be handed down? I know it was sometime this week, but i haven't been keeping track.
Great, not pass that nice treatment to the gay community to your freakin customers too. As much as I love the gay community, and this is great for them, the consumers are still being screwed, and the people need to hit back.
...now pass that... (if only my log-in worked... i could edit it instead)
...they'll bitch and moan, but it just sucks to be them.
"...diverse workforce is critical to remaining successful and competitive. "
No, it's not. I'd like to think that there'd be an economic benefit for these companies for providing such benefits, but generic 'diversity' provides no benefit beyond a nice smug feeling for upper management types.
I do think that if your company took openly anti-gay stances that it would seriously dent your client base. That said, having a history of subtle or rare anti-gay sentiment among workers doesn't seem to have hurt some companies (Old Country Buffet), so perhaps you're right. That said, I still think it's a moral imperative if not a financial one.
Excuse me, not Old Country Buffet, but Cracker Barrel. My apologies.
Would you shop at a place where people of your persuasion (Religious,sexual,philosophical, etc.) couldn't work? Or where the ones that did work there were treated like shite? These days one of the best ways to tank a company's bottom line is for it to be found out that they won't serve a particular section of consumers.
As much as I hate to say it. Some people are going to be like that anyway. But if the company doesn't at least attempt to treat it's employees/customers decently, they most likely won't last long.
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Uhh guys there is a difference between discrimination and going out of your way to fill some artificial diversity quota.
In fact I think said diversity quota can't be good.
Imagine if you will a gay person applies for a job which shouldm enter your mind sooner when thinking of hiring him.
"Is he qualified?/Can he work well here?"
"He's gay, I wonder do we have enough gay people all ready employed to call ourself diverse or do we need to hire him?"
Diversity is not "critical to remaining successful and competitive". That's bullshit.
Agreed, diversity can be nice, but it should never come at the cost of throwing away more qualified candidates for the move diverse one.
Never said it should come before ability. The thing is that some people, given their way, wouldn't hire someone if they didn't approve of their lifestyle, even if that person was obviously the best person for the job. I think thats what they are looking at.
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Sooo having different points of view on subjects doesn't allow a company to adapt that much better? In todays gaming world of sequels and movie spinoffs we need new stuff, and people of varying ideas, ideaologies, and backgrounds are essential to see outside the box. Plus avoids angry protesters.
I gotta say, Microsoft really is one of the most diverse companies to work for. I work with two Transgendered folks. My first day I took the shuttle to get my badge sitting next to a guy with a mohawk and ten facial piercings on one side and a guy in pajamas and a bathrobe on the other. Most of the time they don't care as long as your results on paper look good you can do/be/believe whatever you want.
So, regarding the guy in the bathrobe: What color were Bill Gates' pajamas and had he bathed yet?
Jack Thompson
PS: This is more proof that we don't need to government to tell Americans how to treat one another.
Jack Thompson
PS: But of course I'm alleged at this site to be gay, so I may be biased.
John that made no sense. Baseless and blatant attacks on people get you no points with anyone but yourself. Sounds rather masterbatory to me.
If we don't need goverment telling people how to treat eachother then why are you a.) A lawyer and b.) Trying to tell Americans how to treat eachother? (Yes I can make the logical step by step explanation but you wouldn't get that either.)
Not only do we not need the government telling us how to treat each other, we also do not need the government telling us what entertainment media we can or cannot enjoy, and we don't need them telling us how to raise our children...
I completely agree.
What we need them to do is quit taking bribes from the oil companies, and protest the people from these companies... Are you serious $5/gal in my tiny little town where it was $3.50!!!! screw this world, screw it hard...
Correction, we SHOULDN'T need any government involvment with anything we do, but in order to keep the crazies from killing everyone we do need a government that gets involved, the question is how far is needed. In the case of gay people there was time not so distant as in only decades ago where you could be killed simply for being gay. Protection is still needed against the people who still hold onto prejudices that have nothing to do with an employees work ethic.
Fake.
Gay? I'm not so sure. You molest the dead before their bodies are even cooled by pushing your agenda on CNN, so you are a necrophile. And you support Thailand overlooking its more serious problems such as child prostitution, so you are a pedophile. But gay? No, you could only be so lucky.
Aw...poor JT, can't post on JAABlog anymore so he has to lash out on Gamepolitics instead...
JAABlog banned him? SWEET!
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
did they actually say that he's banned or are you just guessing?
You typed your name a secodn tiem when it wasn't needed at all. Love yourself that much?
Heh, so you might be gay, for yourself.
thats wonderful, i will support those equality based companies
<a href="http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com">http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com</a>
Have these people even been on XBOX Live? They're in for a shock.
When you give everyone an open mic and anonymity some people are going to say really bad stuff either in jest or just to annoy people. The internet has all ready proven that.
Wonderful news.
I am curious as to who got low scores though
Oh wow, that's the dumbest thing I've ever read.
Oh? You're the dumbest thing I've ever read.
*Insert bad PC nazi joke about tight uniforms and shiny black boots*
Uhg I suck.....
I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
(in need of a bad overhaul)
For those of you wondering the (dis)honor of the lowest scores-Zero-goes to Exxon Mobile and Perot Systems Inc.
Jesus, Exxon Mobil wasn't already evil enough? They're already ecoterrorists, and probably the single most irresponsible and soulless of all the big oil companies. Shouldn't really come as a surprise that they are a pack of bigots as well.
Haven't you seen the commercials? they are happy wonderful people being persecuted by those eeevil enviormentalists.
Changing your sex is just WRONG, you should not be discriminated against it, but its just too wierd. ExonnMobile ROCKS,!
FAIL.
did we forget the nickname scandal on XboxLIVE? having accounts suspended for displaying gay on nicknames should be remembered before giving microsoft a perfect score...
Gallagher can araç kiralama say all he wants, but I strongly rent a car believe it's due to his crappy leadership and E3 being a joke. ESA's Board of Directors need to find a way to get out rent a car of this horrid contract with this Bush cronie before there's no one left on the Board.
Btw, I think Atari and Midway will drop out too, but mostly travesti because these guys have done nothing ttnet vitamin or little and need to start saving costs.
Thanks good job;
Btw, I think Atari and Midway will drop out too, but mostly travesti because these guys have done nothing travesti or little and need to start saving costs. and dizi izle
YES.
Now I don't have to get off my ass for the important shit anymore!
Whats next, ordering pizza from Xbox live?
Wait... I think that sounds like a good idea.
But I think voting should MAKE you get off your ass, and see outside or a second while you go vote. I mean, your picking the president of the United States of America for God's Sake... least you can do is drive down there and punch out a card.
This post makes no sense to me
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