IBM, Orbitz and Symantec have joined
the growing list of companies backing a bill that seeks to ban
anti-LGBT discrimination in all areas of civil rights.
If approved, the bill, titled the
Equality Act, would prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination in seven key
areas, including credit, education, employment, federal funding,
housing, jury service and public accommodations, by effectively
expanding the Civil Rights Act, originally approved in 1964.
“IBM's workplace culture is built on
the principles of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all,”
IBM
said in a written statement. “IBM is proud to support the
Equality Act and maintains our steadfast support for all employees to
experience equality in the workplace.”
Orbitz said that supporting the
Equality Act was inline with other actions, “such as signing the
amicus brief calling on the Supreme Court to find gay marriage bans
unconstitutional.”
“At Symantec, we are proud to support
full and equal rights for the LGBT community,” Symantec said. “We
unequivocally support the Equality Act – for the future of our
business and society.”
Symantec, IBM and Orbitz join
Microsoft, American Airlines, General Mills, Google, Facebook, Nike,
Apple, The Dow Chemical Company and Levi Strauss, & Co. in
supporting the bill.