-- Perfect score attributed to company's commitment to inclusive
environment --
ATLANTA, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) is proud to
announce it has earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights
Campaign (HRC) 2006 Corporate Equality Index.
The HRC is the nation's largest lesbian and gay political organization.
Its 2006 Equality Index surveyed and rated 446 companies on a scale of 0
percent to 100 percent on several factors, including whether they have a
written non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation; support
transgender employees with written non-discrimination policies and
benefits; offer inclusive health insurance, bereavement and family leave
policies to employees with same-sex partners; offer diversity training;
have Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) employee groups; engage in
appropriate and respectful advertising to the GLBT community; contribute to
GLBT community organizations; and decline to engage in any activities that
would undermine the goal of equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people.
"At an ever increasing pace, corporate executives understand that
supporting their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees is not
only the right thing to do but it is also good for business," said Human
Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.
BellSouth has participated in all of the HRC's five annual surveys.
This is the highest score the company has received -- surpassing previous
years' scores in the mid-80s. "We are very pleased to receive a perfect
score for our efforts in this area," said BellSouth Chief Diversity Officer
Valencia Adams. "The GLBT market is one that continues to contribute to the
success of our bottom line, and it is our plan to continue to build
relationships that benefit our company and our customer."
A copy of the report and all ratings can be found at
http://www.hrc.org/cei.
About BellSouth Corporation
BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 500 communications company
headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth has joint control and 40
percent ownership of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice
and data provider with 57.3 million customers.
Backed by award-winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most
comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available
in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business
customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial-up and
high-speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R)
Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local
and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also
offers print and online directory advertising through The Real Yellow
Pages(R) and YELLOWPAGES.COM(TM) from BellSouth.
BellSouth believes that diversity and fostering an inclusive
environment are critical in maintaining a competitive advantage in today's
global marketplace. More information about BellSouth can be found at
http://www.bellsouth.com.
SOURCE BellSouth Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.bellsouth.com
http://www.hrc.org/cei
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/095650.html /
CONTACT:
Angela Brooks of BellSouth Corporation,
+1-404-249-2365, or angela.brooks@bellsouth.com
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