By Ann K. Symons (Chair, GLBTRT)
This morning, I was listening to an interesting NPR piece when I was struck by the opening remark made by host Linda Wertheimer.
“Wal-Mart, Apple, Angie’s List, NASCAR — some of the biggest names in business this week pushed back against “religious freedom” laws in Indiana and Arkansas. They said the laws could open the door to discrimination against gays and lesbians and were bad for their business”.
This opening reminded me of a set of contrasting remarks – the voice and words of Dr. Martin Luther King from January 27, 1965 at a Nobel Peace Prize Recognition Dinner in Atlanta, GA.
“KING: And so all people of good will are challenged to work passionately and unrelentingly to remove every vestige of segregation and discrimination from our nation’s life. We must do this not merely because it is economically and politically sound, but because it is morally compelling.
While I am thankful to Coca Cola for taking on the issues of discrimination in 1965 and for Wal-Mart, Apple, Angie’s List, NASCAR and all of the other business groups who weighed in on the proposed “religious freedom” laws, let us not forget the voices of individuals and associations for whom these are not solely business decisions.
Sources:
When Corporations Take The Lead On Social Change
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=397391510
