In the News...

[lagilman]

EtA:  Thankfully, Jan Brewer's mind was able to understand that if she signed this, a) her state would hemorrhage taxable income/tourist money and b) the state would be spending a LOT of money fighting lawsuits, and c) the Feds would be raising an eyebrow over the constitutionality of it [more lawsuits] and the probability that the state might have bigoted themselves out of Federal funds....  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-26363704


The Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines released a statement today sharply criticizing efforts by some states to pass legislation allowing businesses to refuse service to gays and lesbians.

"As a global values-based company, Delta Air Lines is proud of the diversity of its customers and employees, and is deeply concerned about proposed measures in several states, including Georgia and Arizona, that would allow businesses to refuse service to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals," said Delta's press release. "If passed into law, these proposals would cause significant harm to many people and will result in job losses. They would also violate Delta's core values of mutual respect and dignity shared by our 80,000 employees worldwide and the 165 million customers we serve every year. Delta strongly opposes these measures and we join the business community in urging state officials to reject these proposals."

the money shot, as it were:

Delta is a major job creator in the Atlanta area, where the company has its headquarters and hub at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Not a threat...exactly.  But they've indicated that they hold a very large bat and may not be afraid to use it.  Now, an airline isn’t going to pack up and move their hub overnight… but a corporate HQ? That can shift pretty fast. And take a lot of tax revenue with it.

Mind, I still think Delta’s a crap-performing airline. But my hat’s off to them, this morning.

Comments

[jslinder.livejournal.com]

More importantly, this shows the culture wars are being won, albeit slowly and against a heavily fortified retreat action (which is what these laws are - can't stop gay marriage- make em not want to get married or make it too difficult). 10 years ago, even if they felt that way, a major corporation would never have made a statement like this for fear of backlash.

[janetl.livejournal.com]

Well done, Delta!

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

oh for fuck's sake--Georgia too? What is WRONG with people?

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Good for them.

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

*applause*

Apple doesn't have quite as big a bat to wield in Arizona, but the 700 jobs it is in the process of creating at its new manufacturing plant in Mesa aren't set in stone, and they weren't afraid to let Gov. Brewer know it last week.

Brewer's brain is approximately the size of a shriveled pea, but money is one of the few things she understands. I hope she pays attention. And I hope the legislature in Georgia pays attention, too.

[ckd]

I'm sure Minneapolis would love to get the Northwest headquarters back. :-)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Good on Delta. It's sad that we can't hammer home the message that "discrimination is bad" but the message "fuck with my business and you lose bundles of money" rings out pretty clear.

And these laws do, clearly, fuck with business. As written, they allow an employee to put their personal definition of religious sensibilities over the rules, regs, and business practices of the companies they work for, resulting in bad PR for said company in a *best* case scenario.

It's not about TEH GAY either. There are quite a LOT of pharmacists who would cream their shorts at the idea that they can no longer be fired for doing all in their power to force their religious anti-abortion dictates on those Slutty McSluts showing up wanting Plan B and birth control.

[gorgeousgary]

One notes in theory Delta could take a hit if a large number of people start choosing hubs other than Atlanta to connect through. Granting of course that one may not have a choice depending on destination, and the next nearest hubs are in states that I could see following Arizona and Georgia's poor example.

[lagilman]

Of course they could. The fact that they face a risk in taking this stance makes it more admirable, not less.