Texas firms talk LGBTQ rights, but talk is cheap

For many years now in our country, and especially in the last two decades, LGBTQ rights have become a flashpoint in the national conversation. The discussion has become so mainstream that even corporate America has taken notice.

There have been many victories since the days when Kimberly Hively was fired for being a lesbian, or Kim Davis was denying marriage licenses to gay couples in Kentucky — the most profound victory being the landmark case in 2015 when the Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage in all 50 states.

But there is still a long way to go, as evidenced by current legislation recently re-introduced in Congress, the Equality Act.

The Equality Act has become one of the focal points of the conversation on LGBTQ rights in Washington. To make a long story short, the bill would amend several laws to ban discrimination for “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” against LGBTQ Americans in employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, education, federal programs, and credit. The bill has bipartisan support and, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a broad coalition of support among businesses.

There are noticeable absences from that list, however, and many of those companies have large footholds here in Texas. They profess to have corporate values that should align with the Equality Act, yet have not come out in support of the bill.

One noticeably absent name is Compass Real Estate, a company with growing footprints in Austin and Dallas. The company’s founder once wrote on the buying power of the LGBTQ community, but when it comes down to it, won’t actually support the community. He also mentions the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) in his piece, but Compass is nowhere to be found on NAGLREP’s list of corporate partners, though many other real estate companies are.

Dell, one of the largest employers in Austin, has also not supported the Equality Act — even while their company website professes, “Diversity, inclusiveness and creating a sense of belonging for all Dell employees form the basis of Dell’s Winning Culture and are essential to Dell’s business success.”

With statements like that, Dell should be one of the leading organizations supporting the Equality Act.

Despite these companies not stepping up to the plate, it seems that by and large, the American business community has made up its mind. Bloomberg Law found that 91 percent of Fortune 500 companies prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and 83 percent already prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. And the American people agree, with 69 percent of Americans supporting “broad protections” for LGBTQ persons. Between corporate America and public opinion, it’s obvious that much progress has been made.

But companies such as Compass and Dell can do more. While they have spoken highly about diversity and openness, it is only words and marketing unless they back those words up with action.

A good first step would be for them to step up and support the Equality Act.

America — and Texans — are watching.