Ford Shareholders To Vote On Rescinding Gay Equality Provision

by Doreen Brandt, 365Gay.com Washington Bureau

(Washington) Ford Motor Company shareholders will vote next month on a resolution to drop protections for LGBT workers from the company’s human resources regulations.

The company had fought the motion, submitted by shareholder Robert Hurley of Alton, Ill, but when Alton took the issue to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission the commission said the automaker must put the resolution to a vote at Ford’s annual meeting May 11.

The motion calls for Ford to change its policy to exclude any reference to sexual interests, activities or orientation.

Ford had argued to the SEC that the proposal would hurt the company’s ability to recruit and could hurt sales to gays and lesbians.