The CEO of Walmart on Tuesday called for the governor of Arkansas to veto the religious freedom bill passed by the state’s legislature on Tuesday, which may allow discrimination against gays and lesbians.
The legislation in Arkansas is similar to the controversial law signed last week by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R).
“Every day in our stores, we see firsthand the benefits diversity and inclusion have on our associates, customers and communities we serve. It all starts with our core basic belief of respect for the individual,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillion said in a statement on Twitter. “Today’s passage of HB1228 threatens to undermine the spirit of inclusion present throughout the state of Arkansas and does not reflect the values we proudly uphold.”
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) had been concerned about an earlier version of the Arkansas bill, but said recently that he would sign the bill if it “reaches my desk in similar form as to what has been passed in 20 other states.”
This will be interesting. If WalMart really desires legislation one way or another in Arkansas–and pulls the necessary strings (read: lines the right pockets)–then that legislation happens. I guess the question is: Did WalMart line any pockets in the state capitol?
Yeah, riiight. Nice sentiment but its hardly their over-riding business model. Hate to be a downer, but I seriously doubt Walmart will relocate out of the State of Arkansas if Hutchinson signs this state’s RFRA bill into law. And they really won’t be doing much more than giving ‘strongly worded’ statements of ‘disappointment’, even after it happens, though I’m sure they have the power to do far more to change things if they wanted to.
As much as I want to believe corporate America wants to say and do the right thing, Walmart just isn’t one those companies that tends to walk the walk. They are very good at talking the talk however when asked for their opinion.
And boy oh boy…Hutchinson sure hasn’t wasted any time getting his ultra-conservative agenda moving speedily in that state, as he just assumed office this past January…three months ago!
Yeah, we need a new word for easy corporate suck-up to the idea of basic person-ness of gay folk. Maybe ¨rainbow-washing¨?
Edit: A quick googling yields a reference to rainbow-washing on site called ¨Womanist Musings¨ from 2010 with a description of exactly this phenomenon.
Well, this certainly puts Arkansas conservatives in an awkward position: they must choose between their church and their favorite restaurant.
Wal-Mart. Eli Lilly. These are big names and big political contributors. The problem is that they funded tar babies like Mike Pence and Asa Hutchison, and it’s going to be rather hard to unstick them from their brands, no matter how much their CEOs decry the actions of state lawmakers.