Or near Redbird.
Posted on 05/02/2014 2:26:10 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
When it comes to inclusion and equal treatment of LBGT employees, Toyota is at the top of the list. And it helps that the majority of Toyota employees live in a tolerant state like California. But could that change when the company's U.S. headquarters move to Texas in a few years?
Toyota is moving 5,300 employees from California (and some in New York and Kentucky) to Plano, Texas, a move Texas welcomed with open arms and an open pocketbook. It'll serve as a devastating blow to Torrance, Calif., who was apparently blindsided by the news.
By all accounts, Plano seems to be your average, bland, subdivision-laden corporate town. (It's also the home of JCPenney's headquarters!) I asked your Texan Jalops, Matt and Patrick, for their best summations of Plano, and all I got was "wealthy and conservative." But while not as exciting as, say, Dallas, it's worth nothing that Texas' ninth-largest city regularly appears on best-of lists when it comes to standards of living.
Seems like it would be a smooth transition, since Torrance is pretty suburban itself. But as Richard Read at GayWheels points out, it could be a culture shock for however many gay employees there are at Toyota — and if it's at all reflective of the auto industry as a whole, there might be many — who might not be as welcome in a state that has an anti-sodomy law on the books, allows landlords to discriminate against gay couples and doesn't recognize same-sex marriage.
That's a sea change from liberal California, which not only recognizes but performs same-sex marriages. And while I wouldn't be too worried about an archaic anti-sodomly law, it is possible a landlord could turn away (or evict, if found out) a couple, since the same anti-discriminatory Housing and Urban Development laws that protect gay couples in federally assisted housing don't apply at the private level.
I emailed a Toyota spokesman about what safeguards the company has in place for gay employees, and here's what I got back: "Toyota has a number of affinity group organizations including one for our LGBT associates," he writes. "Diversity and inclusion is a priority for Toyota North America. We have assured our LGBT team members and associates who may move to Plano from Kentucky, California, and New York, that eligibility for Toyota partner health and welfare benefits will remain the same."
Our Toyota spokesman hinted as much as well. "While it is difficult to forecast state political changes, as GayWheels correctly notes, the majority of the move will take place late 2016 or 2017, and by that time some of the legal changes referenced are likely to have taken place," he writes.
So why Plano and not the more progressive Austin or Houston? "Quality of life was one of many considerations in choosing the site," he writes. But he notes that Toyota is offering travel expenses for employees and spouses to explore Plano and its surrounding areas before they move there to decide if it's the place for them.
Any Plano residents out there want to give the 411 on what life is really like?
That's all well and good on the corporate level, but what about Texas culture itself? Read points out that notoriously homophobic Gov. Rick Perry will no longer be in office when Toyota breaks ground in Plano (he's not running for re-election after this term), so a door could open to removing legislation that bars gay Texans from equal rights. Or we may just see the Supreme Court remove the last barriers to gay marriage.
Yes, be very worried and stay in Commiefornia
Regards,
Texans
/johnny
Where you sleep out every night, and the only law is right, back in the saddle again.
You have to admit, it is a novel approach to try to prevent the escape of a large employer...
Hopefully the deviants will find work in CA instead of moving to TX.
Texas should be worried about a company moving a ton of LBGTQs or whatever they call themselves to Texas. That is creepy.
What can you expect from an author who doesn't get pronouns?
“””so a door could open to removing legislation that bars gay Texans from equal rights.”””
Tell me more about this fictitious legislation.
I'm sure a lot of Coloradans would like to send their ex-Californians back. I bet Subaru would welcome them...
I would suggest all queer Toyota employees move to Mesquite. Or east Dallas.
Be sure your life insurance premiums are paid up.
No, they should not be afraid, but I sure hope that they are. - Tex
If a lot of LBGT move to Plano, Plano won’t be Plano, Plano will have to change it’s name to Fabulous, Tx.
Let them truly “diversify” and move to S. Dallas, Lancaster, Desoto, et al.
I mean, they can get cheap housing etc. and they can just shoot up to Plano for work.
Notice how libs NEVER “diversify” themselves? Actions speak louder than words
Or near Redbird.
Toyota hires a lot of freaks and perverts?
I’d say if you’re so LGBT it can be spotted from low orbit then you have other problems. Work is a place to work. You’re supposed to fit in and work as a team. That means you’re there for work, not for politics or proselytizing or picking up sex partners. You don’t dress so pro-Christian or pro-Republican or pro-Democrat or put forth anything that would not be totally appropriate for whatever your work environment is. That’s what they’re paying you for, to do a job, not to look so outrageous or to act so outrageous that your behavior subtracts from getting the job done.
(There’s this gay black young man at my local Wal-Mart who flaps and flutters about (literally dancing) so loudly you know he’s gay from the front door when he’s at a register. If it weren’t so ridiculous it would be funny. “Hey, girlfriend! (Speaking to a male employee.) Bring me over some twenties. That’s a sweety.”)
They should stay in California, then...
Lots of High-paying Toyota-like jobs in La, right??
OH...
WAIT....
"low orbit". I like that... if gaydar can be set off at planetary distance, you're probably not focused on your day job.
Any Plano residents out there want to give the 411 on what life is really like?
Horrible for out-of-closet peter puffers. Stay away at all costs. If you are still in the closet fine. Texans are pretty much a live and let live bunch, but overt flamers do not get the red carpet like they do in Kali.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.