The 9 cities that should be disqualified from Amazon’s Headquarters Race
Cities in states that don’t protect LGBT people from discrimination shouldn’t be considered for Amazon’s second headquarters according to activists from across the nation. They are sending a clear message to the behemoth as they consider the options: ‘œNo Gay? No Way.’
Amazon has been one of the leaders in using corporate influence to benefit the LGBT community and has had a queer employee resource group for over a decade. So we have to wonder why are they considering locations that would take away the civil rights of any employees transferred out of the Seattle office?
‘œWe were frankly just stunned that a company with such a great track record of equality and diversity had put all these states into the mix,’ Conor Gaughan, the ad-hoc campaign’s manager told USA Today.
Nine out of the twenty finalists for Amazon’s HQ2 are in states that offer no protections for LGBT people. Some of the states are actively hostile to civil rights.
Austin and Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta, Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Miami, Raleigh, N.C., and the D.C. suburbs of northern Virginia do not protect LGBT people from discrimination.
Indiana voted down a proposed hate crimes law this week because it included sexual orientation and gender identity. The state recently faced a national outcry when it passed a law that would have allowed business owners to discriminate against LGBT people.
Public schools in Texas are required to teach students that homosexuality is unnatural and unacceptable. You can also see more examples of discrimination brought on from the Texas legislature here. Tennessee state law prohibits local governments from enacting nondiscrimination laws that include LGBT people.
Amazon’s requirements for the new location were clear, saying it requires ‘œa compatible cultural and community environment’ that includes ‘œthe presence and support of a diverse population.’ Now advocates want them to comply with their own standards.
The coalition of activists plan a protest outside of Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle today, complete with a plane waving a ‘œNo Gay? No Way.’ banner behind it. They will also be placing billboards on trucks to drive through Seattle streets with the logo emblazoned on them.
As a proud gay man of 40 living in Austin Texas this is absolutely embarrassing how the LGBT community keeps acting.
We need stop shoving our opinions on everyone. We also need to work with our companies and legislators to make changes.
Let’s do a thought exercise. Ok let’s just say we get Amazon which is very LGBT friendly from moving to Austin Tx. Now that they are not here there is no change for the people of Texas. However, if we get AMAZON here in Austin the Capital of Texas they will with the power they have from new jobs and tax revenue have an influence that they will bring, people they will bring to Texas, and higher will help change the landscape in the state to help the overall community.
Every time we push some company away we hurt the people living in that state that need the jobs, need the changes, and need growth which will help the current and future generations. When the community keeps acting like this, the people who need to work with and change how things are done they will never take us serous, but look at us a child who is not getting their way.
Let’s grow up. Stop though fits and work with the cities, counties, state, federal government and companies to move us forward one step at a time instead of hurting the chances of good people who need a good job that are straight, gay, or whatever.