Chron praises pro-gay corporate policies
by Owen Courrèges · 09/29/2006 7:19 amThe Chronicle has an amusing editorial out this morning praising corporations for having pro-gay policies (same-sex partner benefits, etc).
At a time when some legislatures are depriving gay citizens of equal opportunity and protection under the law, a powerful sector is marching in the other direction. It’s corporate America.
While the Chronicle would have us believe that recent efforts in the legislatures to ensure that marriage remains exclusively heterosexual somehow “deprive[] gay citizens of equal opportunity and protection under the law,” the truth is much more complicated. But that doesn’t keep them from using inflammatory rhetoric, it seems.
On one hand, the findings are a refreshing surprise. On the other, they reflect basic logic. A big proportion of Americans — 10 percent is the conventional estimate — is gay. The same figure applies to the work force.
What employer would want to alienate a tenth of its staffers, distracting them from their work and undermining their loyalty?
Ok, the 10% figure is a myth. It was exposed long ago. True figures are about 3% for men, and significantly less for women. As a whole, about 2% of the population is gay.
I think this blurb from Snopes.com sums it up: “The common figure of “10% of the population is homosexual” is often bandied about, but that number is derived from a misapplication of a Kinsey study which was not based upon a representative sample of the population. One can find estimates that place of the percentage of the population considered to be homosexual anywhere between 1-2% and 25%-35%, but a reasonable survey of the more controlled studies would put the figure in about the 2-3% range (for males, at least).”
To say Kinsey was not representative is an understatement. He oversampled males, prostitutes, convicts — you name it. It stands to reason that his data was incorrect.
When capitalism works, employees, employers and consumers all enjoy the benefits. Equitable workplaces are a good example. A secure environment creates loyal, productive workers. Consumers get a better product, and employers are not only better citizens — they stand to make richer profits.
A better interpretation is that gay advocacy groups are powerful and can sway corporate policy. Nobody wants the Human Rights Campaign breathing down their neck, especially when roughly half the population sympathizes with gays and is willing to vote with its collective pocketbook. Conservatives have proven less willing to punish corporations for being friendly to gays (as conservatives are less likely to participate in any protest — probably a reaction against the 60’s).
So is this free enterprise? Sure. But probably not in the way the Chron paints it.
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Ok… I read this thread. Scrolled down and see the guy with the straws stuffed in his mouth. Is that a Freudian slip? Or is it something I need to address on my part? Omigawd…. I might be…. naaahh…. I got me one of these:
http://www.bible.ca/marriage/angry-wife.jpg
I love when liberals spout off figures. “According to the National Association of Statistic Talking Yahoos, 32% of all chinchillas are infected with the junta virus.” It doesn’t have to be true, just somewhat believable.
What happened to don’t ask - don’t tell! Why is it the gays are determined to rub their preferences in my face? I do not go around announcing that I am straight, in fact like most heterosexuals, I do not make an issue of my sexuality at all. Why is it that gays have to make it am issue. If they shut up and quit trying to be “special” no one would know and no one would care.
Fastie,
Harry Truman once said there were three types of lies. Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics.
I am a student of statistics and have found it to be very useful tool in analyzing raw data and determining the validity of such data. Regrettably, sloppy researchers can use stats to prop up equally sloppy data.
Simple
#2 D.B.
Eggsactly!
I don’t care what they chose to do, as long as it doesn’t include me or my family. I sure do not want to keep hearing about their problems!!
Don’t do around annoucing that you are straight? Do you talk about your boyfriend/husband/spouse? Do you have pictures of your family at your workplace? These are things that a gay person generally doesn’t have, bcause people become “uncomfortable” when the gay person speaks likewise or displays similar pictures.
Silence is deadly. For the longest time, if gays remained silent they were subjected to harassment that no one helped resolve. In many cases that harassment was comopunded because those that could help also harassed.
Gays long for the day that they can again be silent about their sexual orientation. Because on that day they will have their right assured.
Member of a PFLAG CHapter
Just one more example of how the Chronicle writers are incompetent and/or deliberately biased. Either they don’t know the real figure (2%) or they know it and prefer to perpetuate the myth.
I used to work at a Fortune 50 company that caved completely to the pro-gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgender crowd. It was unbelievable how much they let them get away with.
I have managed hundreds of people and believe it or not, I never discussed their sex lives with them.
“I am a student of statistics and have found it to be very useful tool in analyzing raw data and determining the validity of such data.”
True. But, any time I see a figure in the Chronicle or any other media outlet, I wonder. Unless it is a figure about something solid and easily verified like a production number or something. 80% of statistics are easily manipulated and 100% are readily accepted by 90% of the people.
# 5 - Don’t do around annoucing that you are straight? Do you talk about your boyfriend/husband/spouse? Do you have pictures of your family at your workplace? These are things that a gay person generally doesn’t have, bcause people become “uncomfortable” when the gay person speaks likewise or displays similar pictures.
No I am single, 51 yrs old, I do not discuss my private life at work. My office is decorated with photos of water falls and old stately houses and sunsets from my travels. Any family photos are at home where they belong.
My friends know I am a practical joker, my clients know I am the best at what I do and my vendors know I am square and honest with them. They need no other info. My private life is just that - private and my own.
So when gays quit trying to stuff thier sexuality down my throat - I might give a $hit about them, but not until then. THEY ARE NOT SPECIAL!
Their right to what?
7 Fastie,
It is a good thing to be skeptical when people spout stats.
Show me the data!
Statistics attempt to predict the population by sampling a representative slice of the population. Before I get hammered…A population could be a factory’s production of widgets, likely voters, freckle-faced red haired girls, or just about anything you can think of at the time. If the sample is no good, then the stats are no good.
Most statisticians proudly show their data and will be frank about the degree of uncertainty.
I suspect that the portion of the population that is homosexual is somewhere between 3.0% and 7.0%, but what does it really matter?
Simple
For clarification purposes, I wasn’t being a wisea$$ with my question in #9. I’m truly interested in a gay person’s perspective on what rights they feel are being denied them.
52 percent of all statisic are made up.
Yeah, but 90% of people believe them without question.
(OK, now I’m being a wisea$$)
It all boils down to nosepicking. Homosexuals are like nosepickers. Nobody wants their children to grow up to be nosepickers or homosexuals.
With all the talk about rights, everyone has forgotten about the grossness of what they do.
If we start granting benefits to gay partners, can pets be far behind. Let’s face it, in most cases our pets are better, more reliable companions and we treat them like our wives or kids.
How dare you question the Comical’s facts. Wait a minute… This is where I’m supposed to say, “I didn’t know anyone still read the Comical.”
#8 DB
You go girl!
I like your way of thinking!!
I don’t believe homosexuality is some kind of disease. I can’t help but think that with the numbers of births that happen everyday in this country that some miniscule percentage of them have some genetic malfunction that may predispose someone toward homosexuality. I don’t believe for one second that the percentage is even 1%. I think there is some percentage of homosexual behavior that is simply a lifestyle choice, experimentation, etc. Irregardless, this issue has been perpetuated by Hollywood and the liberal mainstream media - institutions that for some reason attract homosexuals and/or homosexual behavior. This bull shiite about “10%” is simply more gay rights propaganda. I’m sick of this issue being mainstreamed. These folks have even resorted to our public elementary schools to co-opt support from our children. This is just some more crap we have to put up with as the secular, left-wing, socialist elite continue to undermine our social/moral fabric.
Speaking of stats…
I heard once that only 20% of all gays were born gay.
(tic tic tic)
The other 80% were sucked into it.
# 19 - Good one Piggyfan
An example of how the 10% can’t be right. 12% of our population are black, do you think that you are seeing as many gays as you are blacks in your everyday routines? I don’t think so.
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The “love that dare not speak its name” has become the “love that absolutely will not shut up”.