Illinois Department of Human Rights rules in favor of Freedom to Work and finds ‘Substantial Evidence’ of Anti-Gay Bias at ExxonMobil
In a January 30, 2015 ruling, the Illinois Department of Human Rights found substantial evidence that Exxon engaged in sexual orientation discrimination in violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
The decision comes nearly two years after Freedom to Work filed a charge of discrimination against ExxonMobil asserting that Exxon gave an unlawful hiring preference to a lesser qualified straight applicant over a better qualified lesbian applicant. In December 2012, Freedom to Work undertook employment testing with the experts at the Equal Rights Center, who submitted nearly identical resumes to Exxon for a position in Exxon’s Patoka, Illinois office. Exxon responded by contacting the less qualified straight applicant three times to invite her to interview, but never contacted the better qualified lesbian applicant. Today’s decision means that the Department of Human Rights has agreed to take Freedom to Work’s side in the non-profit group’s action against Exxon, and will co-prosecute the action before the Illinois Human Rights Commission later this year.
Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work, said: “Exxon was recently forced by President Obama’s executive order to add gay and transgender employees to the corporation’s equal employment policies, but those were merely changes on paper. We must ensure that LGBT employees actually get a fair shot in their careers at Exxon, not just on paper. Freedom to Work will continue to prosecute this civil rights case and hold Exxon accountable for its anti-gay discriminatory conduct from the recent past.”
News and Blog Posts
- USA Today: "Senate to Vote on Gay Rights Bill by Thanksgiving," October 28, 2013
- "Labor Dept: Same-Sex Spouses can Participate in Benefit Plans," September 2013
- Wall Street Journal: "U.S. Extends Family Leave to Same-Sex Spouses," August 2013
- MSNBC: "Senate committee: You Can’t be Fired for Being Gay," July 10, 2013
- "Freedom to Work Doubles Down on Push for LGBT Workplace Protections," June 17, 2013
- "Complaint Accuses Exxon Mobil of Anti-Gay Bias," Associated Press, May 2013
- "Advocacy Group Accuses Exxon of Anti-Gay Hiring Practices," Los Angeles Times, May 2013
- New York Times: "Exxon Defies Calls to Add Gays to Anti-Bias Policy," May 2013
Reports
- "$250 Billion In Federal Contracts Doled Out In States With No LGBT Anti-Discrimination Laws," according to report by Freedom to Work, Movement Advancement Project, and other leading LGBT organizations
- "A Broken Bargain: Discrimination, Fewer Benefits and More Taxes for LGBT Workers," 2013 Report by the Movement Advancement Project, Human Rights Campaign, Center for American Progress, and partners including Freedom to Work
- Center for Work-Life Policy Study: “The Power of Out” (July 2011)