Use your investment dollars to improve corporate Americas treatment of gay and lesbian employees.

First comes marriage. Then comes the fight for health benefits. Companies have enormous power to influence the rights of gays and lesbians in this country. Individuals can use their retirement funds and investments to vote for a more gay and lesbian friendly corporate America

(PRWEB) May 20, 2004 -- First comes marriage. Then comes the fight for health benefits. Gay and lesbian couples in this country are not only fighting for the right to marry. They are fighting for the right to be acknowledged and treated as normal married couples.

Federal and state laws are one front in this battle -- corporate America is the other. Companies have enormous power to influence the rights of gays and lesbians in this country", says Reathel Geary, registered financial consultant and co-founder of IMHO investments, LLC (www.imhoinvestments.com). For example, some companies are leaders in providing health benefits to same sex spouses. Others are much farther behind."

Fortunately, average investors have enormous power to influence the behavior of companies. Publicly held companies live or die on their ability to attract investors. When you buy a companys stock, you are casting a vote in support of the way it does business", says Geary. If you believe companies should provide benefits to same sex married couples, then invest in those companies that do."

How does the average investor find companies with gay and lesbian friendly policies? Fortunately, there are mutual funds that judge companies based on those kinds of criteria. By putting their retirement funds or savings into these mutual funds, individual investors can join a collective vote in favor of more progressive policies in corporate America.

This investing approach, sometimes referred to as socially responsible investing (SRI), allows investors to advocate for change with their money. SRI is one of the fastest growing trends in investing", says Geary. We call it opinionated investing -- helping clients to invest in companies that share their views on what is important. SRI mutual funds help our clients to join their financial voice with others who have similar opinions."

That collective investment can be powerful. In many ways, publicly held companies are the ultimate democracy -- one share, one vote. Mutual funds can use their position as shareholders to advocate for change in company policies. The more dollars a mutual fund holds, the more votes it can cast. Mutual funds that specifically look for non-discrimination towards gay and lesbian employees are a growing voice in this form of shareholder activism.

It may not be as sexy as legal battles and kisses on the courthouse steps, but SRI is one more way that gays, lesbians, and those who love and support them can make change happen.