Four major employers have joined the more than 40 major employers that have signed an open letter calling for lawmakers to oppose state bills targeting LGBTQ people.
Chobani, GoDaddy, Hewlett Packard Inc. and Verizon signed the letter stressing the importance of fairness and opportunity for their customers, employees, and employees’ families.
“We are deeply concerned by the bills being introduced in state houses across the country that single out LGBTQ individuals—many specifically targeting transgender youth—for exclusion or differential treatment,” the letter reads. “Laws that would affect access to medical care for transgender people, parental rights, social and family services, student sports, or access to public facilities such as restrooms, unnecessarily and uncharitably single out already marginalized groups for additional disadvantage. They seek to put the authority of state government behind discrimination and promote mistreatment of a targeted LGBTQ population.”
The letter, which was released by American Competes (a program for Freedom for All Americans) and the Human Rights Campaign, was written as a reaction to states like Idaho introducing or passing legislation banning transgender girls from high school sports.
“Businesses succeed when they are innovative, welcoming, and open to all,” said Alphonso David, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “Harmful legislation—especially the torrent of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced across the country—deeply affect businesses’ ability to recruit and provide opportunities to their customers and employees.”
