Some of Exxon Mobil Corp.'s employees were upset that the company wouldn't allow pride flags to be flown outside of its offices during June.
Pride flags won't be waving outside of Exxon facilities this June after the company moved.
The oil and gas giant banned flags in support of movements like Black Lives Matter, as well as flags in support of other movements.
Employees at the Houston chapter of Exxon's internal PRIDE organization refused to participate in Houston's June 25 Pride celebration.
According to an email from the Houston PRIDE chapter obtained by Bloomberg, the ban appears to be related to rainbow flags being flown at company facilities last year.
Exxon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes, but the vice president of human resources said the move was intended to clarify the use of the ExxonMobil branded company flag and not to diminish the company's commitment to diversity and support for employee resources.
She said Exxon supports displaying flags of employee resource groups.
It is difficult to reconcile how ExxonMobil views the value of promoting their corporation as supportive of the LGBTQ+ community outside of the workplace.
At a time of heightened scrutiny for companies taking stances on social issues, the move from Exxon comes at a time. In Florida, the governor signed a bill into law abolishing Disney World's ability to self-govern its massive property in response to Disney speaking out against Florida's House Bill 1557. Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick, who oversees the state Senate, said earlier this month that he will prioritize passing legislation similar to the Florida law, which prohibits lessons about gender identity and sexual orientation for students below the fourth grade. Irving, Texas is where Exxon is located.
The display of rainbow flags at Department of Defense facilities is banned by the Pentagon. Despite President Joe Biden promising to reverse the policy for LGBTQ pride flags, the ban on the display of banners like the Confederate flag remained in place during the Trump Administration.
The Exxon ban on the Pride flag caused a backlash.
The Pentagon is banning the Pride flag and other flags at installations.
The Bill Dissolving Special District into Law was signed by the governor of Florida.
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