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Exxon Mobil Corp. stands by its policies despite ongoing
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demonstrations staged by gay activists By Gip piaster
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nerships because benefits based on any other
n Exxon Mobil Corp. official says
criteria
would force the company to invade
rallies against the company
employees’ privacy to verify their eligibility.
planned in several cities are the
“We don’t think any company has the right
result of misinformation in the
or the knowledge to get into personal relation­
gay and lesbian community.
ships,” he says.
The company, formed by the merger of
Exxon Mobil, which does 80 percent of its
Exxon and Mobil in November, decided to keep
business outside the United States, recognizes
Exxon’s employment policies and benefits
same-sex relationships in Holland, for example,
rather than adopt those of Mobil, which pro­
because such relationships are legally recog­
tected gay men and lesbians from employment
nized there, Cirigliano says.
discrimination and provided domestic partner
“This isn’t a political issue. This isn’t a gay
benefits.
It’s a matter of personal rights," he
ìssue.
company
are
Demonstrations against the
explains. “We believe that there
planned or have already
is only one crite­
occurred in cities around the
rion we can
nation, including two in
apply
through­
Exxon’s home state of Texas.
out the world: Is
“We do not appreciate
it
a legally recog­
that the company took some­
nized
partner­
thing away that was already
ship
r
in existence,” says Dan
Chris Martin,
DiDonato, one of the orga­
spokesperson for
nizers of a Houston-based
the Gay and Les­
rally.
bian A lliance at
The former Exxon Corp.
the former Mobil
has long maintained that it
Corp., previously
does not discriminate based
used strong words
on sexual orientation but has
in reference to
balked at including the
the policy changes.
phrase sexual orientation in its
He called the
nondiscrimination policy.
decision to elimi­
The company instead
nate Mobil’s policy
includes only the categories
required by federal law.
and benefits “a real
The former Mobil Corp.,
kick in the teeth” and said
however, included the phrase
Exxon Mobil “really screwed
sexual orientation in its nondis­
up.”
crimination policy and offered
But M artin’s words are now
Exxon M obil Corp.,
domestic partner benefits.
more carefully chosen. Meet­
T he two oil companies
formed by the m erger ings are planned that he hopes
merged as a result of Exxon
will force the company to clari­
o
f
Exxon
and
M
obil
in
acquiring Mobil, and the new
fy its position on nondiscrimi­
company is governed by
nation.
November,
decided
to
Exxon’s rules.
He cautions, however, that
Former Mobil employees
he is not sure if Exxon Mobil
keep Exxon's policies
who already were receiving
management is committed to
domestic partner benefits will
ana benefits rather than doing the risht thins for ^
be allowed to keep them, but
and lesbian employees.
former Exxon employees and
I don’t have enough infor­
adopt those o f Mobil,
former Mobil employees who
mation,” he says. “I certainly
had not signed up for the
which protected gay
hope that it is.”
benefits will not be eligible.
Martin adds that the trend
men and lesbians
Exxon’s nondiscrimination
nationally is toward offering
policy, which does not men­
benefits and including sexual
from employment
tion protection based on sex­
orientation in nondiscrimina­
ual orientation, applies to all
tion policies.
discrimination and
employees of the newly
“T h e company is going to
merged company.
have to go back at some point
provided domestic
Exxon Mobil spokesman
to adopt what Mobil had in the
partner benefits
Tom Cirigliano, formerly of
first place,” he says.
Exxon, says: “We think it is
In the meantime, an esti­
unfortunate [that rallies are planned). We
mated 2,500 former Mobil employees could get
think there has been a lot of misinformation
their benefits and nondiscrimination protec­
out there.”
tion back as a result of collective bargaining.
He adds that the company has chosen to
T he Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and
adopt a broad nondiscrimination policy rather
Energy Workers International Union has said
than one that mentions specific categories of
that its collective bargaining agreement with
people, unless that mention is required by law.
the former Mobil Corp., which includes a
Cirigliano says Mobil Corp. no longer exists,
strong policy against sexual orientation discrim­
so any policies it had are no longer an issue.
ination and requires equal benefits, must
Exxon acquired Mobil in the merger. This
remain in effect another two years.
is a continuation of Exxon’s policies,” he says.
T he union says it will fight to keep the ben­
“Mobil Corp. doesn’t exist anymore. All of
efits.
Mobil’s policies were discontinued.”
Cirigliano adds that the company bases its
■ GlP PLASTER is a TexaS'based journalist and fre­
benefits on legally recognized marriages or part-
quent Just Out contributor.