HRC LAUDS TRANSGENDER-INCLUSIVE TOYS "R" US POLICY

NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign
1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-3278
E-mail: hrc [at] hrc.org
http://www.hrc.org
_________________________________

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Contact: Steven Fisher
Phone: (202) 216-1547
Cell: (202) 431-7608

Contact: Mark Shields
Phone: (202) 216-1564
Cell: (202) 716-1637

HRC LAUDS TRANSGENDER-INCLUSIVE TOYS "R" US POLICY

"Equal treatment is sound business," said HRC's Winnie Stachelberg.

WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign today lauded Toys "R" Us for
agreeing to add language to its equal opportunity employment policy
prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity. It appears likely
that the company, ranked 171 in the Fortune 500, will also begin
offering domestic partner benefits and including sexual orientation and
gender identity issues in their diversity training. If implemented, the
company would earn an 86 on HRC's Corporate Equality Index -- a tool
measuring how equitably companies are treating their gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.

"Equal treatment is sound business," said Vice President of HRC's
Foundation Winnie Stachelberg. "Toys 'R' Us becomes the 52nd company in
the Fortune 500 with a non-discrimination policy that includes gender
identity. With this announcement, 113,000 employees will learn that
the
company's promise fair treatment and equal benefits extends to GLBT
employees as well."

Based in New Jersey, the Toys "R" Us non-discrimination policy already
covered sexual orientation. The news came following a shareholder
proposal that was filed by New York City's Pension Funds and the state
of New York asking the company to abide by the Equality Principles.
Those principles include sexual orientation and gender
identity-inclusive non-discrimination policies, "equal employee
benefits" regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and
inclusive diversity training. Toys "R" Us is the second company to
agree
to follow the Equality Principles as outlined in a shareholder
resolution. Kansas-based Cerner Corp., a healthcare technology firm,
agreed in March. The city of New York and its co-filers have withdrawn
both resolutions.

In a letter to New York City's Office of the Comptroller, a Toys "R" Us
representative asserted that the company would broaden its equal
employment opportunity policy to include gender identity as a protected
category. The representative also wrote, "Our policies and practices -
existing and as so clarified - will encompass, in all material
respects,
the ten principles included in your shareholder proposal."

"This news is extremely welcome and a signal that all companies can
take
steps forward that result in better business practices and higher
productivity for employees," said Stachelberg.

In June 2002, a jury found the company guilty of discrimination against
three transsexual consumers who were called names and threatened with
baseball bats while shopping in December 2000. The jury, however,
awarded only $1 in damages to each plaintiff.

"The company now needs to ensure that every single one of their
employees understands and fully abides by this new policy," added
Stachelberg. "While their commitment signifies a giant step forward, we
look forward to more signs of the company's support for equality."

To score 100 percent, the company would have to demonstrate GLBT
inclusiveness in advertising or philanthropy. The Human Rights Campaign
is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
political
organization with members throughout the country. It effectively
lobbies
Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure
that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and
in
the community.

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