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Replacements Ltd. Takes A Stand |
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By Paul Lee
Senior Staff Writer, The Front Page
In a letter to vendors on June 22, Robert L. Page, president of Replacements Ltd., said the company would use sexual orientation policies -- along with quality, pricing and service — as criteria for doing business with vendors. "I have instituted a policy which states that Replacements Ltd. want to conduct business solely with those who can, at a minimum, show that they don't discriminate against employees in any way due to their sexual orientation," Page wrote. "Replacements Ltd. is opposed to all forms of discrimination in the workplace, including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation," he continued.
Page said that nearly half of Replacement's 380 vendors have responded that they do not discriminate based on sexual orientation. "We've had a fairly large response," he said. He also said that no negative comments about the letter or policy have been received. The letter continued, "As you may well know, I am gay myself and I have first-hand knowledge of the discrimination, fear and rejection that gays and lesbians face every day, especially in the workplace. Many of they are simply too afraid to speak out for their basic rights, so I feel it is important that I stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves." "In spite of what some bigoted people might say, please know that in North Carolina gays and lesbians do not have the basic civil rights that everyone else has," the letter read. "We are the only group that can legally be denied a job or a place to live solely because of our sexual orientation." Page told vendors that it was not his goal to change their opinions of homosexuality, but he emphasized that sexual orientation should not be a factor in employment. He also mentioned that more than 100 of his 550 employees are gay or lesbian. Page told The Front Page, "I'm a very big supporter of the importance of coming out, when you can afford to." He was referring to being openly gay in the workplace and in life. Replacements Ltd. provides equal benefits for its married employees as well as gays and lesbians who have been in a committed relations for at least one year. In other ways, the company has been supportive of the gay and lesbian community in the Triad. Replacement Ltd. is the community sponsor for the Dining with Friends fundraiser, and it supports a gay and lesbian film festival and AIDS agencies. Page said Replacement Ltd. employees were instrumental in starting the Triad Business and Professional Guild, a networking group for gays and lesbians. Courtesy of The Front Page, a North Carolina newspaper |
North Carolina business owner Robert Page is putting his money where his beliefs are through an anti-discrimination policy for his vendors. 
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