Three major companies asked to distance themselves from the
While many brands have publicized marriage equality movement, a Tumblr called Brand Equality" has added various company logos to the Human Rights Campaign's viral red "equals sign" symbol.
Knowing that brands and their social media managers would take notice, Brand Equality notes that "Brands can choose to request [the image] removed, implying they do not support [gay marriage] Boo!"
Or, as Mashable calls it, "public shaming for brands."
Three brands have been asked to be removed. Some are surprising, others expected. In the brands' defense, it is possible that they don't allow for their logos to be reproduced for legal, trademark or intellectual property reasons.
*Correction: This item originally said, incorrectly, that Urban Outfitters does not support gay marriage. In fact, the company does support gay marriage. The incorrect information came from the Brand Equality Tumblr. Apologies.
1. Exxon
Exxon is the first company to ever receive a negative score on Human Rights Campaign's corporate equality index. According to HRC, it is "the only U.S. employer that has ever rescinded both a non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation and domestic partner benefits, and is the only Fortune 10 company that does not have a non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation.”
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2. Walmart
Although Walmart partnered with gay and lesbian groups in 2006, it changed its tune the next year. While individual stores were allowed to donate to gay groups, SVP of corporate communications Mona Williams said, "We are not currently planning corporate-level contributions to GLBT groups."
According to Policymic, Jim Walton, the grandson of Walmart cofounder Sam Walton, donated $75,000 to the Family Council Action Committee's 2008 push to ban adoption for gay couples.
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3. Chick-fil-A
Perhaps the least surprising company to find on this list, Chick-fil-A went through a huge PR nightmare when president and COO Dan Cathy came out as vehemently against gay marriage this summer.
"I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about," he told "The Ken Coleman Show."
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