(SAMPLE LETTER #1)
DATE
NAME
TITLE
COMPANY
STREET ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP
Dear :
I am the owner of 50 shares of ________________ common stock. I have continuously owned the shares more than one year and intend to hold them through the next annual meeting. At that meeting, I will offer the following resolution:
Whereas
, it would be inappropriate and possibly illegal to ask a job applicant or employee about their sexual interests, inclinations and activities.
Whereas
, it is similarly inappropriate and legally problematic for employees to discuss personal sexual matters while on the job.
Whereas
, unlike the issues of race, age, gender and certain physical disabilities, it would be impossible to discern a person’s sexual orientation from their appearance.
Whereas
, according to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender political organization, on their website states, “an inclusive non-discrimination policy (one that refers to sexual orientation) is a key facet of the rationale for extending domestic partner benefits.” The HRC adds, “Establishing a benefits policy that includes your company’s gay and lesbian employees is a logical outgrowth of your company’s own non-discrimination policy….”
Whereas
, domestic partner benefit policies pay people who engage in homosexual sex acts, which were illegal in this country for hundreds of years, and have been proscribed by the major traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Mohammedism for a thousand years or more.
Whereas, c
ohabitation, regardless of sexual orientation, is illegal in North Carolina, North Dakota and several other states.
Whereas,
the Armed Forces of the
United States
is one of the largest and most diverse organizations in the world. They protect the security of us all while adhering to a “don’t ask, don’t tell policy” regarding sexual interests.
Whereas
, our company does not discriminate against tobacco users when they apply for a job even though they are not protected by any employment clause. It also does not pay tobacco users benefits based on their engaging in this personally risky behavior.
Whereas
, those who engage in homosexual sex are at a significantly higher risk for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
Whereas
, marriage between heterosexuals has been protected and encouraged by a wide range of societies, cultures and faiths for ages.
Resolved
: the shareholders request that American Express form a committee to explore ways to formulate an equal employment opportunity policy which complies with all federal, state and local regulations but does not make reference to any matters related to sexual interests, activities or orientation.
Statement
: While the legal institution of marriage should be protected, the sexual interests, inclinations and activities of all employees should be a private matter, not a corporate concern.
Sincerely,
(SAMPLE LETTER #2)
DATE
NAME
ITLE
COMPANY
STREET ADDRESS
CITY, STATE ZIP
Dear :
I am the owner of 175 shares of ___________. I have owned these shares continuously for over one year and intend to hold them through the time of the next annual meeting. At that meeting, I will present the following:
Whereas:
Thomas Jefferson said in A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, “To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical.”
Charitable contributions come from the fruit of our employee’s labor and belong to all shareholders as a group.
While there are thousands of charitable organizations, some charitable groups focus on shared sexual interests, especially the sexual interests of homosexuals, bisexuals and those persons who feel the sexual identity they were born with does not comport with their preferred “gender expression” or “gender identity.” Individuals in this later group are sometimes referred to as “transgendered.”
A large number of our employees and shareholders come from Jewish, Christian or Moslem religious traditions. These faiths have condemned the practice of homosexuality for a thousand years or more.
According to Karla Jay and Allen Young in their book, “The Gay Report (Summit Books, 1979),” 99% of homosexual males engage in oral sex, 91% engage in anal sex, 82% engage in “rimming,” 22% engage in “fisting” and 23% engage in “golden showers.”
According to a 1999 Medical Institute of Sexual Health report, “Homosexual men are at significantly increased risk of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, anal cancer, gonorrhea, and gastrointestinal infections as a result of their sexual practices.”
A study by A.P. Bell and M. S. Weinberg, Homosexualities: A Study of Diversity Among Men and Women, found that 43 percent of white male homosexuals had sex with 500 or more partners, with 28 percent having 1,000 or more partners.
Some charities are concerned with AIDS education. Despite massive amounts of money spent on AIDS education, some of it from large corporations, the incidence of unprotected anal sex increased 50% between 1997 and 1998, according to the Center for Disease Control.
A study done by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice noted approximately 80% of the sexual incidents Catholic priests had been accused of involved underage boys.
Other charities, Planned Parenthood for example, perform tens of thousands of abortions each year. Abortion, like homosexual sex, was illegal in the
United States
for many years.
Resolved
: The shareholders request that management list all the charitable organizations Citigroup gives to on the company website.
Supporting Statement: Full disclosure is integral to good corporate governance. Charitable contributions are something a company should take pride in and should help create goodwill for our company. Listing the recipients of our charitable funds on the company website will cost little and better inform employees, shareholders and the general public of the kinds of organizations the company supports.
Sincerely,
