RELEASE

Editorial Comment: After Wal-Mart surrendered to political correctness only Exxon Mobil Oil Corp. remains as a top ten Fortune 500 corporation that extends family benefits on the basis of opposite sex martial relationships, and treats all others equally as single employees. Contrary to the headline and report inferred by the following article this policy was not discriminatory, as same sex marriages or domestic partnerships are not legally recognised in the United States, except the State of Vermont.

The Canadian Press, 2003

NEW YORK (AP) - Wal-Mart Stores has decided to revise its workplace anti-discrimination policy to include gay and lesbian employees, according to a newspaper report.

The change was disclosed Tuesday by the Pride Foundation, a Seattle gay rights organization that invested in Wal-Mart and then worked to get the policy expanded, according to a story Wednesday in the New York Times.

The change means nine of the 10 largest Fortune 500 companies now have rules prohibiting discrimination against gay employees, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The one exception is the Exxon Mobil Corp.

Mona Williams, Wal-Mart's vice-president for communications, told the Times that the most important factor was a letter to senior management from several gay employees.

"It's the right thing to do for our employees," Williams said. "We want all of our associates to feel they are valued and treated with respect - no exceptions. And it's the right thing to do for our business."

Williams said Wal-Mart was sending a letter to its 3,500 stores to give word of the change.