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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 29, 2008

Contact: Jeff Simmons, (212) 669-2636

jsimmon@comptroller.nyc.gov <mailto:jsimmon@comptroller.nyc.gov>

THOMPSON ANNOUNCES UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT TO PUSH CORPORATE AMERICA TO PROTECT LGBT WORKERS

-All new measures include gender identity-

-Six companies already adopt City's request-

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. and the New York City Pension Funds today called on two dozen of America's largest companies to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity - nearly twice as many proposals as in the previous proxy season.

"We must work together to make sure that corporate America embraces acceptance and affords all employees the same protections, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity," Thompson said at a news conference at The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in Manhattan to announce the measures.

"Each year, more companies are making this commitment because they believe in guaranteeing equal treatment in the workplace. However, many of this country's largest corporations still refuse to protect all workers."

The resolutions - which you can view at www.comptroller.nyc.gov <http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov> - were filed on behalf of the New York City Employees' Retirement System (NYCERS), New York City Police Pension Fund, New York City Fire Department Pension Fund, New York City Teachers'
Retirement System (TRS) and New York City Board of Education Retirement System.

The resolutions call for companies that have not already done so to revise their policies to forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This is the second proxy season in which all new measures include gender identity.

This season's resolutions focus on 24 companies, most of which are in the Fortune 500 (all are within the Fortune 1000). The companies are: HCC Insurance Holdings of Houston, TX; Timken Company of Canton, OH; ExxonMobil Corp. of Irving, TX; AK Steel Corp. of Middletown, OH; Fidelity National Financial, Inc. of Jacksonville, FL; Brink's Company of Richmond, VA; Liberty Global, Inc. of Englewood, CO; Lyondell Chemical Company of Houston, TX; Eastman Chemical Co. of Kingsport, TN; Tesoro Corp. of San Antonio, TX; Apache Corp. of Houston, TX; Murphy Oil Corp. of El Dorado, AR; Kelly Services, Inc. of Troy, MI; EchoStar Communications Corp. of Englewood, CO; Huntsman Corp. of Salt Lake City, UT; Marshall & Ilsley Corp. of Milwaukee, WI; Frontier Oil Corp. of Houston, TX; Borg Warner. Inc. of Auburn Hills, MI; Anadarko Petroleum Corp. of The Woodlands, TX; Synovus Financial Corp.
of Columbus, GA; Erie Indemnity Company (Erie Insurance) of Erie, PA; SPX Corporation of Charlotte, NC; American Financial Group, Inc. of Cincinnati, OH; and, Leggett & Pratt, Inc. of Carthage, MO.

Currently, the five Pension Funds have more than $110 billion in holdings.
The Funds hold nearly 30 million shares worth nearly $2.2 billion in the companies announced today.

Already, management at Erie Indemnity, SPX Corp., The Brink's Company, Synovus Financial Corp., AK Steel Corp. and Marshall & Ilsley Corp has agreed to adopt the changes. The Comptroller's Office has since withdrawn those resolutions.

This is the eighth time that the Funds have filed a measure with ExxonMobil, with each year bringing stronger support from its shareholders. The measure calls for ExxonMobil to amend its Equal Employment Opportunity policy to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation. (It does not include gender identify because it originated prior to the resolutions expanding to include gender identity.)

Shareholder support for the proposal has increased in each subsequent year it has been filed: in 2007, it was supported by 37.7 percent of shares voted; in 2006, it was supported by 34.6 percent of shares voted; and in 2005, it was supported by 29.4 percent.

"We must remain steadfast in our efforts to bring about change and urge ExxonMobil to establish equal rights in the workplace," Thompson said.
"While it is heartening that a number of shareholders agree that ExxonMobil must take steps to provide equal protections for all employees, it is extremely troubling and downright unacceptable that ExxonMobil has strongly resisted the call."

The resolutions build on proposals submitted by the Pension Funds for more than a decade asking dozens of Fortune 500 companies to adopt policies that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

To date, 50 companies have amended their policies to include protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
During the last proxy season alone, eight companies agreed to adopt explicit prohibitions against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity: Robert Half, International; Advance Auto Parts; Wesco International, First Horizon Financial, Cleveland-Cliffs, Armor Holdings, Sky West, Inc., and Family Dollar Stores.

Additionally, the measure won a majority vote of 52.2 percent at HCC Insurance, making it the fourth management-opposed, social proposal ever to win majority support.

"Equal treatment in the workplace is a right, not a privilege, and no one should face discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity,"
said New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. "These large companies must set the standard for equality, and pave the way for the rest of corporate America to step up and revise their policies to protect all employees equally. As a NYCERS trustee, I am proud to join this effort to protect LGBT employees from discrimination, and I want to thank Comptroller Thompson for his leadership on this issue."

"As a NYCERS trustee, I have pledged to do everything in my power to ensure that the system's $42 billion is invested in companies that reflect fair and equitable employment practices," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. "Discrimination based on sexual or gender orientation is no more defensible than bias based on race, sex or religious belief, and it is especially important for the giants of American business and industry to set an example that embraces respect for all people. This is a great opportunity for some of the world largest corporations to take a stand that is both good for business and the right thing to do."

"Many companies have been moved to change their policies by a solid business case for equality: attracting and retaining talented employees and improving employee morale and productivity on the job," said Daryl Herrschaft, Director of the Workplace Project at the Human Rights Campaign - www.hrc.org <http://www.hrc.org> . "For those that chose to buck that trend, shareholder advocacy is an effective way to quickly secure senior-level engagement on the issues facing LGBT employees. Members of the LGBT community and all fair-minded Americans have a steadfast advocate who has achieved results in New York City Comptroller William Thompson."

"This effort is exactly what is required to persuade corporations to afford equal workplace rights to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity," said Richard Burns, Executive Director at the LGBT Community Center. "Nearly 40% of LGBT Americans report harassment and fear in the workplace, the place where they spend nearly half of their lives. We hope that our greatest corporate citizens will acknowledge the need for equality among all working citizens."

Selisse Berry, Executive Director of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates - www.outandequal.org <http://www.outandequal.org> -, called the measure "an opportunity for the private sector to lead the public sector once again."

"A welcoming and equitable work environment for LGBT people is good for business," Berry said. "Employers who work to support LGBT employees find that they experience higher employee retention, better office morale, and are able to recruit the most creative talent in the field. In addition to the benefits of diversity to the bottom line, it's also the right thing to do. The vast majority of Americans agree that people should be evaluated based on their skills and work performance, not by their sexual orientation or gender identity."

Besides Thompson, the New York City Pension Funds' trustees are:

New York City Fire Department Pension Fund: Mayor Michael Bloomberg; New York City Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta (Chair); New York City Finance Commissioner Martha E. Stark; Stephen Cassidy, President, James Slevin, Vice President, Robert Straub, Treasurer, and John Kelly, Brooklyn Representative and Chair, Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York; Michael Currid, Captains' Rep.; John J. McDonnell , Chiefs' Rep., and Stephen J. Carbone, Lieutenants' Rep., Uniformed Fire Officers Association; and, Joseph Gagliardi, Marine Engineers Association.

New York City Police Pension Fund: Mayor Michael Bloomberg; New York City Finance Commissioner Martha E. Stark; New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly (Chair); Patrick Lynch, Patrolmen's Benevolent Association; Michael Palladino, Detectives Endowment Association; Edward D. Mullins, Sergeants Benevolent Association; Thomas Drogan, Lieutenants Benevolent Association; and, Roy. T. Richter, Captains Endowment Association.

New York City Employees' Retirement System: New York City Finance Commissioner Martha E. Stark (Chair); New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum; Borough Presidents Scott Stringer (Manhattan), Helen Marshall (Queens), Marty Markowitz (Brooklyn), Adolfo Carrion (Bronx), and James Molinaro (Staten Island); Lillian Roberts, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; Roger Toussaint, President Transport Workers Union Local 100; and, Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.

Teachers' Retirement System: New York City Finance Commissioner Martha E.
Stark (Chair); Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm, New York City Department of Education; and, Sandra March, Melvyn Aaronson and Mona Romain, all of the United Federation of Teachers.

Board of Education Retirement System: mayoral appointees Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, Alan Aviles, Philip Berry, David Chang, Tino Hernandez, Edison O. Jackson, Richard Menschel and Marita Regan; Luis Peguero (Bronx), Patrick Sullivan (Manhattan), Wendy Gilgeous (Brooklyn), and Joan Correale (Staten Island); and employee members Joseph D'Amico of the IUOE Local 891 member and Milagros Rodriguez of District Council 37, Local 372.

About the Center

A beacon of hope for 29 years, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center builds and supports our community through arts and culture, wellness and recovery, family services and life-saving youth programs designed to foster healthy development in a safe, affirming environment. The Center envisions a world where LGBT people will no longer face discrimination or isolation because of who we are or who we love. We offer a welcoming home to 300,000 visitors each year and we are committed to serving all LGBT people through a variety of programs, services and activities that are designed to meet existing and emerging needs.The Center is many things to many people. We invite you to experience our home at 208 West 13th Street in person and online at gaycenter.org