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They also wrote a blurb about Brown-Forman:
8. Brown-Forman Corp.
A Fortune 1000 Company, Brown-Forman distributes Jack Daniels, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodkas, Herradura Tequila, Sonoma-Cutrer Wines, Fetzer Wines, Korbel Champagne, Bolla Wines, Bonterra Wines, but provides no comfort to its gay and lesbian employees, refusing even basic domestic partner benefits.
How They're Faring: B.F. is currently trading at $41.70, up marginally from their mid-November 52 week low of $38 dollars, but over the past 10 years has had an average of 8.3% growth annually.
What You Can Do: This one makes the list because it's so easy for you to make a difference. Stop drinking the brands Brown-Forman distributes. If you're out at a gay bar and see a bottle of SoCo or Jack Daniels on the shelf (which you will at just about any gay bar), let them know that they're serving up their whiskey with a chaser of hate and ask them to consider taking it down off the shelf—though you may want to do this the next day while sober and not while loudly screaming at your bartender. With so many gay-friendly liquor companies, there's no reason to put Brown-Forman booze in your gullet.
UPDATE: Sean Wachsman, P.R. Manager for Southern Comfort writes:
"I noticed you have included Brown-Forman on this list, so I wanted to provide you with some updated information. Brown-Forman began offering domestic partner benefits in January 2009, amended our EEO policy to include gender identity or expression and have created a GLBT Resource Group, among other GLBT efforts.
These changes reflect a genuine desire, on the part of our leadership, to create an inclusive organization. We hope you will provide this current information to your readers and revise your top 10 list by removing Brown-Forman
3. Urban Outfitters (with one caveat)
As we were putting this list together, we knew Urban Outfitters, whose chairman, Richard Hayne, regularly supports anti-gay legislation and GOP candidates who vote against gay rights, was going to be on the list. In November, the company quickly removed t-shirts supporting gay marriage from their stores. However, one small glimmer of change occurred last week when the store announced that the t-shirts were back and that 100 percent of its "Marriage Equality" t-shirt sales are going to Equality California and National Center for Lesbian Rights, both major players in the upcoming Supreme Court hearing in California.
How They're Faring:Urban Outfitters has lost more than 50% of its stock value this year, trading now at just over $16.
What You Can Do: A boycott against Urban Outfitters has been going on for years, but the recent t-shirt decision gives gays and lesbians the opportunity to use the carrot as well as the stick. Write to Urban Outfitters and thank them for their decision to support gay rights organizations.
1. ExxonMobil
Rated a 0 by the HRC on gay and lesbian worker's rights, ExxonMobil is the largest Fortune 500 company to offer no domestic partner benefits. In 1999, when the two companies merged, they eliminated domestic-partner benefits for same-sex partners. The company also consistently refuses to ban discrimination based on orientation and gender identity, except where required by law.
How They're Faring: While the rest of the economy is tanking, ExxonMobil tankers, laden with liquid gold, have helped the company reap record profits. On Monday, major brokerage firm Deutsche Bank upgraded Exxon Mobil Corp. from a 'hold' to a 'buy'.
What You Can Do: Take public transportation to work. You'll not only be hurting big oil's anti-gay employment practices, you'll be helping the environment as well.
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