The Human Rights Campaign is giving giant retail chain Wal-Mart a thumbs down in its new consumer guide, citing the company's lack of benefits for gay employees as reason for advising gays and their supporters to shop elsewhere.

Wal-Mart rated a red 40 on a scale of 100, down from a yellow 65 in 2006. It was among 54 companies that scored 45 or lower in HRC's 2008 Corporate Equality index, which assigns ratings to 519 large companies. Also in the red: Toys R Us, RadioShack (RSH) and AutoZone (AZO).

Companies that received a perfect score were Best Buy, Borders, GameStop, Sears, Kmart, and Walgreens. Wal-Mart rival Target was rated a "green" 80.

Wal-Mart has bucked a corporate trend of expanding benefits for gay employees, says Daryl Herrschaft, director of HRC's workplace project. He says two Fortune 500 companies offered domestic partner benefits, comparable to spouse benefits, in 1990. Today, 269 do.

Herrschaft says Wal-Mart had been moving toward more gay-friendly practices. In 2003, the company added sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy, USAtoday reports.

In December 2005, HRC executives were invited to the first of two meetings at the company's headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. On the agenda: the intricacies of implementing domestic partner benefits.

Conservative groups angered by Wal-Mart contributions to gay organizations threatened a boycott, and in June, the company announced a policy to avoid "highly controversial issues." Talks on gay benefits ended, Herrschaft says.

Wal-Mart is "moving in reverse on equal treatment of their employees and their gay and lesbian consumers," Herrschaft says.

Last update: 11-21-2007 12:19

Posted by Chaz Kemp, on 11-26-2007 08:04, 1. Wal-mart Rights Having used to work for them, I know it's a bottom-line issue only, but with their decision to end their lay-a-way, they will be hurting this year. If you really want to get them to implement some gay-friendly benefits, then utilize a strategy for when they're weakest. It's a great company to work for if you get the chance.   » Report this comment to administrator