HRC just released their Buyers Guide - a survey (loose term at best) of gay-friendly companies which social equality-minded people should patronize. BP and Chevron are both year-long Silver sponsors of HRC, and Shell is a Bronze sponsor. All 3 companies and their subsidiaries* are highlighted at the top of the guide with perfect scores. As part of their criteria for the scoring of companies, HRC includes the vague term "external practices." In other words...funding HRC happy hours, cocktail parties, yearbooks, popularity contests, pep rallies, etc... How much of the BP, Chevron, and Shell money went to fighting Prop 8 in California? Considering HRC spent only $3.4 million on Prop 8, I'm guessing the oil money didn't make it past the bar.
In 2006 (the most recent data I found) the HRC spent twice as much on "Membership Mobilization" (mail postage, phone calls, premium member events/galas) than they did on fighting Prop 8 this year. It's easy to see why HRC has become a non-factor in the civil rights movement.
*correction made from original post, where I thought the subsidiaries were actually competitors not receiving equal treatment.
