The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)civil rights organization, released a statement today on the shareholder vote at Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) in favor of a resolution to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the company's official equal employment opportunity policy. The percentage of shares voting in favor of the proposal has grown each of the last ten years, with 39.3 percent of shares voting in favor of the policy this year compared to 8.2 percent in 2000. While not yet a majority of shareholders, a growing block of shareholders has sided against ExxonMobil for more than a decade.

Most Rhode Island voters favor same-sex marriage by a margin of 60 percent to 31 percent, according to a new statewide survey conducted by researchers at Brown University. A larger majority, 75 percent, would support a law allowing civil unions for same-sex couples. Additionally, the survey found that President Barack Obama has considerable support in Rhode Island, with 74 percent of respondents approving of his job as president and 68 percent approving of his handling of the economy.

According to a study released by the Williams Institute ....

The new report reveals that marriage has enhanced same-sex couples' commitment to each other and has improved the lives of their children. Families and communities have also responded positively to same-sex couple's marriages, giving gay and lesbian couples and their children a sense of security and legitimacy.

Senator Mark Leno "Today's decision is extremely disappointing for California and hurts thousands of caring couples who wish to make lifelong commitments to one another through marriage. Let today's decision be a rallying cry for all Californians who believe in equality and fairness, and encourage thousands more to stand up and fight the pervasive injustices LGBT people face in our community and our nation."

The California Supreme Court ruled today to continue the ban on same-sex marriage in the state when it upheld Proposition 8, the November 2008 ballot measure which amended the state's constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Notably, however, the Court unanimously ruled that the over 18,000 same-sex marriages performed while same-sex marriage was legal will continue to be valid and recognized under state law.

The Golden Gate Business Association ("GGBA"), recently announced its annual Pride Business Expo will take place on June 2, 2009 at the prestigious Hotel Whitcomb in San Francisco. Green is the new pink of LGBT business as the GGBA showcases 100 of its member businesses to over 1,000 professionals and consumers in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.

My Gym Children's Fitness Center has responded to the demand in the marketplace by creating the most innovative program in the children's educational fitness industry, a field that has experienced rapid growth with My Gym at the forefront.

Stephanie Berman, the Vice President of Sales and Product Manager for Sepal Reproductive Devices, is excited to announce the unveiling of The Total Conception Kit. The kit is an at home conception kit that allows lesbians to conceive in the privacy of their own home with their partner. The kit is a personal victory for Berman, who is a member of the GLBT community.

May 28-30, 2009 2009 NGLCC National Business & Leadership Conference: Out For Business, Seattle

June 4, 2009 The Opportunity of a Lifetime: 30 Years of Helping LGBTQ Youth

October 6-9, 2009 Out and Equal Workplace Summit

October 15-18, 2009 Reaching Out MBA

Send your GLBT Business Event listing to: info@echelonmagazine.com

There are vacations, and then there are Zoom Vacations - gay getaways that, according to the Chicago-based company's co-founders, Joel Cabrera and Bryan Herb, "expand the mind, invigorate the soul, and re-energize the imagination."

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