14 companies to avoid if you support equality in America

[msmerymac]

And no, chik-Fil-A is not on the list. But my husband will be sad about Waffle House.

mic.com/articles/102220/vote-with-your-wallet-companies-to-avoid-if-you-support-equality-in-america?utm_source=huffingtonpost.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pubexchange


14 Companies to Avoid If You Support Equality in America


The midterm elections are right around the corner, presenting a perfect opportunity to exercise our right to vote — despite what Fox News might suggest. But as critical as casting ballots is to ensuring democracy and expanding equality, there is another important albeit often overlooked way that Americans can vote: with our wallets.



In the context of our capitalist democracy, dollars aren't just green pieces of paper we exchange for goods and services, they represent our values and our priorities. If we invest in women-friendly and LGBT-friendly companies and divest from those with ties to anti-equality groups and politicians, we have a chance to dramatically impact our country's political and social landscape. Not for nothing, "money talks" is one of this country's more ubiquitous expressions.



"Women should vote on their wallet and their rights — both on Election Day and when they shop," Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation, told Mic.



With that in mind, here are some examples of companies to avoid, as well as few we should patronize:



1. Hobby Lobby



Source: Ed Andrieski/AP

Hobby Lobby took its fight against women's health care all the way to the Supreme Court — and won. Claiming that it should be exempt from covering birth control in its employer-sponsored health care plan for religious reasons, the Oklahoma City-based retailer helped set a dangerous legal precedent to deny women, as well as LGBT communities, certain rights.



Meanwhile, Hobby Lobby's retirement plan invests in birth control manufacturers. So, not only are they anti-woman, they're hypocrites.



2. Hooters



Source: Wilfredo Lee/AP

Hooters' blatant hypersexualization of women is well known at this point, but that's not the only reason why feminists should steer clear of this infamous chain. In 2010, two of its former waitresses filed a lawsuit alleging weight discrimination in what is probably the least surprising lawsuit in recent history.



One woman claimed her "civil rights were violated when she was placed on 'weight probation' during an annual evaluation and offered a gym membership," while another claimed she was fired because she didn't fit into the extra small uniform. Keep it classy, Hooters.



3. Curves International



Source: PAT WELLENBACH/AP

This woman-only gym franchise has made a fortune helping women get into shape. But its founder, Gary Heavin, has contributed to anti-choice organizations that are aligned with Operation Save America, a group that lobbies Congress for anti-woman policies and proudly proclaims its goal of "unashamedly tak[ing] up the cause of preborn children in the name of Jesus Christ" on its website.



4. Exxon



Source: Gene J. Puskar/AP

The big oil company has a long history of fighting against LGBT rights. As the Huffington Post reported in 2013, Exxon "has been fighting for years against non-discrimination protection and equal benefits coverage for their employees." Moreover, before Exxon acquired Mobil in 1999, Mobile had "policies to protect discrimination against gay men and lesbians, and even offered benefits to same-sex couples," but Exxon took that all away, according to LGBT news site the Dallas Voice.



In perhaps a new low for the company, the Human Right Campaign gave the massive employer a score of below zero on its 2012 Corporate Equality Index, which measures LGBT equality and workplace protections. And in July, a lawsuit that alleged the gas and oil company discriminated against LGBT employees as part of its hiring practices was allowed to move forward in Illinois, according to the Washington Blade.



5. American Apparel



Source: Uncredited/AP

The clothing chain first gained notoriety for its former CEO's sexist and unethical behavior. Dov Charney, who American Apparel's board ousted in June, mired the company in scandal, ranging from his championing of uncomfortably sexual ads featuring highly sexualized young women to sexual harassment lawsuits, allegations of a personal "sex slave" — and financial fraud.



While the board made the right decision to fire Charney, it took them entirely too long, and they will need to earn back the trust of their consumers.



6. MillerCoors



Source: William B. Plowman/AP

Sorry, beer lovers, but if you value women's rights you better put down that Blue Moon, Coors Light, Keystone Ice, Miller, Killians or Fosters (or any of these myriad other alcoholic beverages).



"When it comes to women's reproductive rights, both Pete and Joe Coors have (unsuccessfully) run for political office on platforms that would deny women bodily autonomy," according to Salon. "In his bid for Senate in 2004, Pete touted his anti-abortion stance. And to prove to voters how passionate he was about limiting women's rights, he committed to changing the Coors Co. health plans so that abortion coverage would be removed."



And Joe Coors, Jr. is no angel, either. He donated to a "personhood" amendment, calling himself a visionary for doing so in the process.



The company also has a terrible track record with unions, the LGBT community and minorities.



7. Urban Outfitters



Source: GEORGE WIDMAN/AP

In addition to perpetrating many a fashion faux pas, Urban Outfitters has also earned a reputation as being a company that is bad for women and members of the gay community. The clothing chain's CEO is notoriously anti-gay and doesn't seem to mind the company's severe underrepresentation of women when it comes to leadership positions.



Currently, only one woman — his wife — serves on Urban Outfitters' board of directors and two women (also including his wife) are executive officers.



8. Cracker Barrel



Source: Pat Wellenbach/AP

Cracker Barrel has been frustrating advocates with its overtly racist and anti-gay practices for years. According to the Huffington Post, 11 employees were fired in 1991 for not displaying "normal heterosexual values," and in 2004, the U.S. Justice Department "found that the chain restaurant had segregated customers, seated and served white customers before black customers, and allowed for white servers to refuse to wait on black customers."



9. Wal-Mart



Source: Seth Perlman/AP

Wal-Mart seems to be constantly getting itself into and out of scandals — they were recently critiqued for a "Fat Girl" section of their Halloween costumes. But the massive big-box chain is no friend of women in other ways as well.



Its systematic and institutionalized discrimination against its female employees made its way to the Supreme Court in 2011. As USA Today reported, the women who signed on to the class action suit "described how male workers with less seniority were promoted and paid more. They have talked of a culture of female stereotyping, of being called 'Janie Qs' and told to wear cosmetics and 'doll up.'" Ultimately, SCOTUS dismissed the case.



10. Eden Foods

Not only did Eden Foods sue the Obama administration over covering contraception as per the Affordable Care Act's mandate, but for a long time, its CEO managed to exclude birth control coverage for employees by classifying it as a "lifestyle drug." (In fairness, Viagra was also excluded. So that's something?)



11. Abercrombie & Fitch



Source: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Mike Jeffries, the CEO (and former chairman) of Abercrombie & Fitch, has a history of fat-shaming young women. According to Business Insider, the retailer had a longtime policy that prohibited stocking "XL or XXL sizes in women's clothing because they don't want overweight women wearing their brand." What's more, Jeffries' marketing plan relies solely on selling sex.



"That's why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don't market to anyone other than that," Jeffries told Salon in 2006,



After word of the comments became widespread, the company was forced to apologize and said it would begin to stock larger sizes starting in 2014. The damage is clearly already done, however, as Abercrombie's years of exclusionary tactics paving the way for problematic newcomers like the "one size fits most" company Brandy Melville.



12. Waffle House



Source: Stanley Leary/AP

In 2012, the breakfast food chain's CEO was accused of demanding sexual acts from a female employee over the course of nearly a decade in exchange for letting her keep her job. In 2013 this scandal was compounded after two more women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against the CEO. And in August, he found himself mired in a court case involving a sex tape. And still, apparently had kept his job. Waffles with a side of skeeze? No thanks.



13. Carl's Jr.



Source: J. Vespa/Getty Images

The burger chain — which has no problem selling its food with sex — was founded by vehemently anti-choice, anti-gay crusader Carl Karcher. According to AlterNet, "He was reviled by abortion rights activists for his contributions to anti-abortion groups and his oft-repeated story about talking a Carl's Jr. employee out of an abortion. Gay rights groups dubbed his hamburgers 'bigot burgers' after Karcher supported a 1978 proposition that would have allowed school boards to fire teachers who were gay or advocated homosexuality."



14. Any one of these 46 companies



Source: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

On the heels of the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby ruling, these 46 companies, along with several nonprofits, filed lawsuits over the defunct contraception mandate:



1. Tyndale House



2. Freshway Foods



3. Johnson Welded Products



4. Willis Law



5. Trijicon, Inc.



6. Barron Industries Inc.



7. Midwest Fastener Corp.



8. Electrolock, Inc.



9. Zumbiel Packaging



10. Encompass Develop, Design & Construct, LLC



11. Holland Chevrolet



12. Autocam Corp.



13. Domino's Farms



14. Mersino Management



15. Eden Foods, Inc.



16. MK Chambers Co.



17. M&N Plastics



18. Mersino Dewatering, Inc.



19. Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc.



20. Triune Health Group



21. Grote Industries



22. Tonn and Blank Construction



23. Lindsay, Rappaport & Postel, LLC



24. Hart Electric, LLC



25. Ozinga Brothers



26. O'Brien Industrial Holdings



27. American Pulverizer Co.



28. Annex Medical Inc.



29. Sioux Chief Manufacturing



30. O'Brien Industrial Holdings



31. Bick Holdings, Inc.



32. SMA, LLC



33. QC Group



34. Feltl and Co.



35. Randy Reed Automotive



36. Doboszenski & Sons, Inc



37. Hastings Automotive



38. Stinson Electric



39. Hercules Industries, Inc.



40. Continuum Health Partnership & Connessione



41. Cherry Creek Mortgage Co.



42. Beckwith Electric Co.



43. Geneva College



44. Weingartz Supply Co.



45. Sharpe Holdings Inc.



46. Catholic Benefits Association



--------



It's not all bad news, however. Amidst these anti-equality behemoths, however, are plenty of pro-equality companies who would love to accept your hard-earned cash. Here are a few you should consider supporting when given the chance.



1. Verizon



Source: YouTube

Verizon recently partnered with MAKERS and Girls Who Code to encourage more young women to enter the STEM field, which traditionally is dominated by men. In July, the company released the commercial above, which takes aim at socially constructed ideals of what it means to be girly.



2. Always



Source: YouTube

Buying menstrual products may be a necessary evil, but you can feel good about buying Always pads. The company has entered into two partnerships for the benefit of girls worldwide. In 2011, Always partnered with UNESCO to promote literacy among young girls, a partnership that continues today. And most recently, it partnered with Ban Bossy to empower young girls. And then there's their fun #LikeAGirl campaign, which challenges stereotypes of girls being weak.



3. Levi's



Source: Bloomberg/Getty Images

The jean manufacturer is a well-known supporter of marriage equality, whose efforts resulted in a 2010 GLAAD award for a pro-gay advertisement, and positive marks in HRC's Buyer's Guide.

[redheadbaker]

MillerCoors makes me sad. I love me some Blue Moon. I will miss it.

[Velar Fricative]

Whew, nothing else is anywhere near as good as Always pads.

(No Diva Cup talk please.)

[Deleted]

Oct 29, 2014 12:09:42 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Whew, nothing else is anywhere near as good as Always pads.

(No Diva Cup talk please.)

I just discovered the infinity pads and I feel like I've been missing out, esp when I was PP after andy was born.

Anyway. I am happy that I don't support any of the top 10.

[Deleted]

I work at Cracker Barrel now, btw and while I obviously cannot attest to how well these policies are work across the stores (all owned by the company, there are no CB franchises) those lawsuits mentioned above really got their attention and their policies regarding discrimination are very black and white. They spent a large part of orientation and training discussing the policies, the effects, and if I even so much as witness or overhear a discriminatory comment of any kind, even ones saying that certain people don't tip as well, or if for instance a waitress tries to pawn off a table on another server on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, etc, I'm supposed to call a like dedicated to that purpose within 24 hours and report it.

I can't go to a manager and be done with it either. I'm supposed to report it directly to that particular office.

Like I said, I can't attest to whether it's working but I can tell you that CB ain't playing anymore when it comes to shit like that.

Also, I'm team CB at the moment because they give raises to their servers and after a year, they give one week's paid vacation. After three years, you get two weeks, and after seven years you get three. Which is pretty fucking impressive in the restaurant business. Again, I can't say yet what happens in practice but they impressed the shit out of me with their policies while I was in training.

[Scout'sHonor]

Oct 29, 2014 12:08:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

MillerCoors makes me sad. I love me some Blue Moon. I will miss it.

Yes, I love it too and we supported them bc they basically paid for H to go through undergrad.  H will also be sad about Carl's Jr.

[msmerymac]

Oct 29, 2014 12:13:26 GMT -5 mryrcn said:

Wow wth with Curves?

Curves is the one I've known about for like 15 years and it's one reason I never joined one back when they were all the rage. Pro-woman they are not. Ironically.

[msmerymac]

Oct 29, 2014 12:08:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

MillerCoors makes me sad. I love me some Blue Moon. I will miss it.

I hate to admit this, but my husband also tries to stay away from Yuengling. :/ That's a bit of an unpopular opinion around this area.

[MrsAxilla]

Oct 29, 2014 12:08:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

MillerCoors makes me sad. I love me some Blue Moon. I will miss it.

^o)

[KateAggie]

So basically, avoid any businesses run by Republicans.

[redheadbaker]

Oct 29, 2014 12:23:10 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:08:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

MillerCoors makes me sad. I love me some Blue Moon. I will miss it.

That I like Blue Moon, or that I won't drink it anymore?

[redheadbaker]

Oct 29, 2014 12:21:51 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:08:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

MillerCoors makes me sad. I love me some Blue Moon. I will miss it.

I hate to admit this, but my husband also tries to stay away from Yuengling. :/ That's a bit of an unpopular opinion around this area.

Why does he avoid Yeungling? I'm not a rabid fan of the taste like most in the area, but I'll drink it if it's there.

[pixy0stix]

I like that we've talked about some of these before.

[Deleted]

Exxon surprised me. I kind of figured they were busy destroying the environment and such for that kind of thing.

[MrsAxilla]

Oct 29, 2014 12:38:32 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:23:10 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

That I like Blue Moon, or that I won't drink it anymore?

That you like Blue Moon.  Haha.  

There are lots of places here that only serve Coors and Blue Moon is by far the best option.  But it's never my first choice.

[Vespasia]

Oct 29, 2014 12:08:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

MillerCoors makes me sad. I love me some Blue Moon. I will miss it.

I'm sad that they own Leinenkugel. 

[msmerymac]

Oct 29, 2014 12:40:15 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:21:51 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

I hate to admit this, but my husband also tries to stay away from Yuengling. :/ That's a bit of an unpopular opinion around this area.

Why does he avoid Yeungling? I'm not a rabid fan of the taste like most in the area, but I'll drink it if it's there.

The owner paints them as a family values company, but has a history of labor violations, including illegally blocking the formation of unions at his plants.

[downtoearth]

Oct 29, 2014 12:43:44 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

Exxon surprised me. I kind of figured they were busy destroying the environment and such for that kind of thing.

There is a human rights LGBT scorecard for partner/human rights for companies and takes into account the environment and BP and Chevron both provide transgender clauses in their health care, partner rights, and BP supports pride activities. That's not to say that they don't all have environmental issues/disasters in their pasts.

[Deleted]

Oct 29, 2014 12:51:39 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:43:44 GMT -5 @kcpokergal said:

Exxon surprised me. I kind of figured they were busy destroying the environment and such for that kind of thing.

There is a human rights LGBT scorecard for partner/human rights for companies and takes into account the environment and BP and Chevron both provide transgender clauses in their health care, partner rights, and BP supports pride activities. That's not to say that they don't all have environmental issues/disasters in their pasts.

That's good. That's what I'd expect.

[redheadbaker]

Oct 29, 2014 12:43:53 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:38:32 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

That I like Blue Moon, or that I won't drink it anymore?

That you like Blue Moon.  Haha.  

There are lots of places here that only serve Coors and Blue Moon is by far the best option.  But it's never my first choice.

LOL It's the first beer that I ever liked so I have a soft spot for it

[redheadbaker]

Oct 29, 2014 12:50:12 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:40:15 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Why does he avoid Yeungling? I'm not a rabid fan of the taste like most in the area, but I'll drink it if it's there.

The owner paints them as a family values company, but has a history of labor violations, including illegally blocking the formation of unions at his plants.

My "like" was more of a "thanks" -- not liking what the company does!

[overture]

I totally get the American Apparel hate, but when it's hard to find mass produced clothes that aren't made in sweatshops, I guess I'd rather boycott them for their labor practices than because of how creepy their ads and their CEO are.

We can hate both, but in apparel, the bar is pretty damn low =/

[mrsbro]

Oct 29, 2014 12:08:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

MillerCoors makes me sad. I love me some Blue Moon. I will miss it.

Ditto.. A sad, sigh-riddled, ditto.

[tacosforlife]

Oct 29, 2014 12:47:41 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:08:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

MillerCoors makes me sad. I love me some Blue Moon. I will miss it.

I'm sad that they own Leinenkugel. 

I think it should be noted that every asshole behavior noted in the article is done by the Coors half of MillerCoors.

[msmerymac]

Actually, my husband just pointed out that MillerCoors had a ton of anti-gay backlash in the late 90s, but they have really done a lot of outreach since then. Some of these companies can really go either way. He also said he's surprised Denny's didn't make the list, because the founder was a racist asshole.

[secretlyevil]

Oct 29, 2014 12:47:41 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:08:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

MillerCoors makes me sad. I love me some Blue Moon. I will miss it.

I'm sad that they own Leinenkugel. 

Como?

[secretlyevil]

Oct 29, 2014 12:21:03 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:13:26 GMT -5 mryrcn said:

Wow wth with Curves?

Curves is the one I've known about for like 15 years and it's one reason I never joined one back when they were all the rage. Pro-woman they are not. Ironically.

what a fucked up business model.

[UMaineTeach]

Oct 29, 2014 13:17:52 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Here's a tip: Exxon is not only sold at Exxon gas stations. In fact, Exxon gas stations may be selling someone else's gas. The supply chain with refineries and the spot market and distributions is much more complex than that.

So good luck avoiding them.

That's exactly what I was thinking. You can't just not go to the station with the Exxon sign thereby not give them any money.

Also, some of the list of corps. that have filed for no BC waivers would be hard too. Who knows if any given product you buy was made using a Midwest fastener, just because you didn't choose the Midwest screws from the bulk hardware bin doesn't mean that some engineer didn't speck one out for use in the deck at your favorite local bar. I'm not sure what I can really do with that list.

[FloFTW]

Oct 29, 2014 12:13:19 GMT -5 @helenabonhamcarter said:

I work at Cracker Barrel now, btw and while I obviously cannot attest to how well these policies are work across the stores (all owned by the company, there are no CB franchises) those lawsuits mentioned above really got their attention and their policies regarding discrimination are very black and white. They spent a large part of orientation and training discussing the policies, the effects, and if I even so much as witness or overhear a discriminatory comment of any kind, even ones saying that certain people don't tip as well, or if for instance a waitress tries to pawn off a table on another server on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, etc, I'm supposed to call a like dedicated to that purpose within 24 hours and report it.

I can't go to a manager and be done with it either. I'm supposed to report it directly to that particular office.

Like I said, I can't attest to whether it's working but I can tell you that CB ain't playing anymore when it comes to shit like that.

Also, I'm team CB at the moment because they give raises to their servers and after a year, they give one week's paid vacation. After three years, you get two weeks, and after seven years you get three. Which is pretty fucking impressive in the restaurant business. Again, I can't say yet what happens in practice but they impressed the shit out of me with their policies while I was in training.

I worked at CB for awhile too. They don't fuck around.

[bugandbibs]

Well, glad to have another reason to boycott Carl's Jr. We were already boycotting them because it's against company policy to allow stores to have changing tables in the restrooms. Apparently they only care about babies BEFORE they are born.