For the fifteenth time in as many years, shareholders of Exxon Mobil Corporation voted down a proposed resolution which would have added "sexual orientation" to their non-discrimination policy. According to the New York Times ("Shareholders of Exxon Mobil Reject Gay Discrimination Ban"), the vote followed the Board's recommendation which asserted that existing policy "already banned discrimination of any type and did not need to add language regarding gays."
Curious about how unique Exxon's lack of specific protection for LGBT employees, applicants and customers might be in their industry (and not particularly anxious to patronize such companies), I did some checking. The results of my inquiries follow the orange thing-a-ma-jig.
Spoiler alert: I'll be buying my gas at Chevron stations whenever possible for the foreseeable future.
You, like me, may wish to compare Exxon's corporate policy with other major gasoline retailers below:
ARCO
ARCO and AM/PM brands are owned by Tesoro Corporation, which licenses the brands in some regionss to BP whose nondiscrimination policy is quoted under its own entry.
Tesoro has long recognized that, as a corporate citizen within the communities in which we operate, we have a moral and legal obligation to support equal employment opportunities for all without regard to gender, age, race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected basis. This policy applies to recruitment, placement, compensation, including rates of pay, company-sponsored training, promotion, demotion, benefits, layoff, transfer, return from layoff, termination, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, and other conditions of employment.
– Tesoro EEO Statement as published on their website.
BP
We believe everyone should have equal opportunity. We recruit, select and develop our people on merit – irrespective of their race, colour, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by the applicable laws.
BP Code of Conduct § 1:31
Chevron
• Chevron was the first major integrated energy company to include sexual orientation in its nondiscriminatory policies and offer domestic partner benefits to our employees.
• Chevron achieved a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index by the Human Rights Campaign and was recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality. The Corporate Equality Index rates nearly 600 businesses on their policies, practices and diversity efforts relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.
Selected bullet points on Diversity Chevron website.
Citgo
Citgo's published Equal Employment Policy does not include protection based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
ConocoPhillips (76 Stations)
No anti-discrimination policy is published on their website. They do reference voluntary compliance with the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights, but it does not include specific language regarding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. I have sent an inquiry to ConocoPhillips' public relations office, and will update with any response I might receive.
Getty
Getty Oil is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, citizenship status or any other basis proscribed by applicable law.
EEO Statement published on Getty Oil's website.
Marathon (Speedway)
Discriminating against any employee or person with whom we do business on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, ethnic group, sexual orientation, covered veteran or other legally protected status is not permitted.
Marathon Petroleum, Speedway, & Marathon Oil Code of Business Conduct, p. 4.
Shell
It is the policy of Shell in the U.S. (“Shell”) and Motiva Enterprises LLC and Motiva Company (collectively referred to as “Motiva”) to provide equal opportunity to all individuals, employees and all qualified applicants for employment consistent with employment requirements and qualifications. Shell and Motiva prohibit discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, citizenship, genetic information, or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.
EEO Statement as published on the Shell website.
Sinclair
Sinclair's Equal Opportunity Statement on their employment application form does not include protection based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Sunoco
Sunoco's Equal Opportunity Statement as published on their website does not include protection based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and in fact limits its scope to “legally protected classifications.”