City comptroller fights for LGBT rights
Sean Gavin
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: City/State
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Thompson's plan calls on dozens of the country's largest corporations to adopt an explicit nondiscrimination policy.
"We must work together to make sure that corporate America embraces acceptance and affords all employees the same protections, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity," Thompson said at a press conference held at the 13th Street LGBT Community Center yesterday.
According to the LGBT Center's director, Richard Burns, almost 40 percent of LGBT Americans report harassment in the workplace.
As the city's chief financial officer, Thompson works with the New York City Pension Funds to hold the companies in which the city's pensions are invested accountable for their actions regarding LGBT workers.
The city comptroller's office, using its pension investments as leverage, has been fighting for antidiscrimination policies for at least 15 years. In 1993, the comptroller was instrumental in pushing Cracker Barrel to pass one of the first anti-discrimination policies.
Michael Silverman, the executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund of New York City, said he has condoned Thompson's efforts over the years.
"This sort of thing has been done before ... and we definitely support the comptroller in what he's doing," Silverman said.
Six corporations have already banned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identification this year, according to a press release. Another 24 companies, including Fidelity Financial Group, are considering similar measures.
But not all companies are enthusiastic about the comptroller's plans. Thompson singled out ExxonMobil as a particularly LGBT-unfriendly company. The Fortune 500 giant has rejected shareholders' antidiscrimination resolutions for the past seven years. Of the top 75 publicly traded companies, ExxonMobil is the only one without a nondiscrimination policy.
Thompson is hopeful that the eighth time will be the charm in what he characterized as a "prolonged battle of wills" with ExxonMobil.
Todd Smith, the director of NYU's Office of LGBT Student Services, said the comptroller's proposal draws attention to an issue of universal importance.
"Workplace discrimination is a career-related issue the LGBT community needs to be thoughtful of," he said, adding that a nondiscrimination policy is important for individuals to look for when entering the workplace.
CAS senior Brian Farber, who will enter the workforce in May, agreed with Smith's sentiments.
"I wouldn't feel comfortable working at a company discriminating against someone considered out of the norm," Farber said. "This should definitely be required of companies today."
"A welcoming and equitable environment for LGBT people is good business," she said.
Sean Gavin is a contributing writer. E-mail him at citystate@nyunews.com.
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