Illinois Family Advocacy Group Lauds ExxonMobil's Stand for Traditional Values

by Jenni Parker and Ed Thomas
June 20, 2005

(AgapePress) - An Illinois pro-family group that has been raising awareness about companies that support or underwrite the homosexual agenda is commending one major U.S. corporation for refusing to give in to pressure from the homosexual lobby.

According to the Illinois Family Institute (IFI), ExxonMobil is being targeted by the pro-homosexual group Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for declining to extend health benefits to the partners of homosexual employees. The pro-family group notes that ExxonMobil, presently the most profitable company in the United States, is currently the only Fortune 50 company that does not fund "domestic partner" benefits.

David Smith, IFI's senior policy analyst, considers the corporate funding of domestic partner benefits a politically correct and harmful policy that ultimately devalues marriage. He says just as it is important "to note those corporations who unwittingly undermine the health and values of our culture, and communicate to them our strong disagreements with the agenda of homosexual extremists," pro-family citizens "must also support corporations that do not cave in to the homosexual lobby's unrelenting pressure."

IFI notes that when Exxon and Mobil Corporations merged in 1999, Mobil's "domestic partner" benefits program was closed from further enrollment, and its "sexual orientation" policy was rescinded. In the years since, members of HRC have waged war against the company -- distributing literature, submitting comments, and making their presence known forcefully and visibly at ExxonMobil's annual shareholders' meetings.

Also, every year since the merger, a minority of ExxonMobil shareholders have attempted to add "sexual orientation" to the company's non-discrimination policies. Despite HRC's efforts, less than 30 percent of the shareholders voted to amend the current policy in the last two years; however, IFI believes the homosexual lobby group will continue to target ExxonMobil shareholders until it has convinced enough of them to embrace its pro-homosexual agenda.

"Pro-family citizens must stand with ExxonMobil," Smith says, "and let them know you support them." He suggests that concerned consumers should send a sample e-mail message to the company, stating that they will go out of their way to buy ExxonMobil gas due to the corporation's stance against "domestic partner" benefits.

And on behalf of IFI, Smith adds, "With the arrival of the summer driving season, we encourage you to look for a Mobil or Exxon gas station the next time you need to fill up". Meanwhile, the pro-family group is continuing to monitor plans for an Olympic-style homosexual athletic event scheduled to take place in Chicago next year. According to IFI, concerned citizens' calls to the sponsors of the Chicago Gay Games VII are having an impact.

Throwing Homosexual Activists Off Their Game
IFI has been protesting next year's "Gay Games VII" and calling pro-family consumers' attention to those businesses that have lent their financial support to the event. Peter LaBarbera, IFI's executive director, says the donation of tens of thousands of dollars by Chicago-based Harris Bank and Kraft Foods towards the Gay Games has surprised many people. Nevertheless, LaBarbera contends, much of the nation is now waking up to the fact that corporate America is increasingly a major supporter of the homosexual agenda in many forms.

Peter LaBarbera

"The reality is that some major corporations are doing things which actually would offend the vast majority of their customers," LaBarbera says. "We see it with Kraft. We see it with Kodak, which sponsors the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. Various other corporations now are doing these radical, pro-homosexual things."

Most of these companies have developed so-called "diversity" policies in their company practices, the IFI spokesman notes. And often, he adds, they have support at the highest levels for sponsorships such as those in the "Gay Games."

Not long ago, LaBarbera made a hopeful prediction about corporate underwriting of the homosexual agenda, saying that, in time, "when people learn about it, they're going to get mad at these corporations and maybe take some action." IFI joined with American Family Association in a campaign to encourage consumers to write to Kraft and other Gay Games VII sponsors and demand they withdraw their sponsorship.

LaBarbera says those concerned citizens who have voiced their disapproval have already made an impact. IFI is thanking those who have voiced their values already for taking a "bold stand," and is continuing to urge other pro-family consumers to do the same.