Amazon is crunching the numbers on where to build its new HQ -- and almost half of the cities on the shortlist for the second headquarters are located in states that legally allow employment, housing and public accommodations discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people.
For years, Amazon cultivated the image of a company fighting against discrimination. CEO Jeff Bezos even accepted the National Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign. But where is that dedication now that it’s about Amazon’s bottom line?
It’s easy to talk big and cash in on a progressive image -- now is the time for Amazon to show its true colors. If we put the pressure on Amazon, the company cannot afford to build their HQ in a place where discrimination is legal, or the image they worked for so hard will blow up in a huge PR disaster.
This decision is not only about protecting Amazon’s current and future employees. If Amazon publicly announces they will not build their HQ in a state allowing discrimination, this is a strong signal to politicians in the whole country and an example for many other companies to follow.
SumOfUs members have been on the frontline of fighting discrimination for years. Together we took on Breitbart News and pressured advertisers until the right wing hate news website had lost 90% of its ad revenue. Now, let’s make Amazon do the right thing and show no tolerance for discrimination.
Ask Amazon not to build their new headquarters in a state that allows discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people!
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CNN. 1 February 2018.