PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Tell AT&T: Allow LGBT Employees Family/Medical Leave
  1. Signatures
    102 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. CEO, AT&T (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • CEO, AT&T (Randall Stephenson)
      • Spokesperson, AT&T (Walt Sharp)
  2. Created By
    Michael Jones
    Boston, MA
About this Petition Petition Letter

UPDATE: AT&T has issued a statement saying that they're working to address this situation, and that they'll make sure Dickensen is given sick leave to care for his partner. Per AT&T's statement, "AT&T regrets that there has been confusion over the administration of family leave with respect to registered domestic partners. We have taken steps to ensure that FMLA is extended to employees with registered domestic partners for the purpose of caring for the partner, regardless of the state in which the employee resides. AT&T has a long history of inclusiveness and we embrace and celebrate diversity of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation in our workforce."

Bryan Dickenson and Bill Sugg have been together as a couple for 30 years.

Dickenson has been an employee of AT&T for 12 years, presumably considered a really good employee, given his tenure there. In September, Dickenson's partner, Sugg, had a serious stroke that put him in the hospital. For the past six months, Dickenson has been using vacation time in order to visit his partner once a week in a rehabilitation center.

Why is Dickenson using vacation time to visit his recovering partner? Because AT&T won't grant him a medical leave to be with his partner. Because they're gay.

AT&T says that because Texas law doesn't require them to recognize their relationship, Dickenson shouldn't be given time off to visit his ailing partner, even though heterosexual employees of AT&T would be given time to visit their spouses.

Tell AT&T that this policy is not only discriminatory, it's cruel. Send a letter right now to AT&T's CEO, Randall Stephenson, as well as corporate spokesperson Walt Sharp.

 

Recent Signatures

Please Recognize Family and Medical Leave for Gay Employees

Dear Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Sharp

AT&T has had a rather stellar reputation for being a company that values equal rights, especially equal rights for LGBT employees. However, a case out of Texas threatens to dismantle this reputation.

Employee Bryan Dickenson, who has been with your company for 12 years, is currently taking vacation time to be with his sick partner, because AT&T won't allow him family or medical leave. According to Mr. Sharp, who issued an official corporate statement, "There are circumstances under which our administration of our benefits plans must conform with state law, and this is one of those circumstances."

But that's simply not true. AT&T is not required by the state of Texas to deny family and medical leave to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender employees. Instead, by denying employees like Dickenson family and medical leave -- the same leave that would be afforded to heterosexual married couples, no matter if those couples were only married for two hours -- AT&T is sending the message that it doesn't consider LGBT families worthwhile. Why would AT&T want to send that message?

Please change this policy, and allow employees like Bryan Dickenson the time off necessary to be with their partners. In this particular case, Dickenson has been with his partner for 30 years. Shouldn't that relationship count for something? Shouldn't AT&T value that commitment?

Thank you.

[Your name]

Press Inquiries