【1999 Archives】

It's been a particularly frightening month for those in the LGBTQ community999 Archives so even small symbols of solidarity matter.

On Friday, IBM announced that they would be rolling out a new logo emblematic of their "pro-diversity advocacy." The company is known for their commitment to the community and is one of the 60 companies involved in the Human Rights Council' Business Coalition for the Equality Act, which advocates for anti-discrimination legislation.

Though they didn't pull operations out of the state, the company previously slammed North Carolina's infamous HB-2 law, which prevent transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice.

IBM is hopeful that their new logo will send a strong message.

"IBM opposes discrimination against anyone for being who they are, and we will continue opposing measures that would negatively impact our employees, our communities and our ability to attract the best and brightest talent to our company," Adam Pratt, a representative for the company, told Mashablein an email.

The move comes as new proposed legislation protecting LGTBQ discrimination has cropped up in state houses across the country.

On Thursday, a Texas Republican state senator introduced a bill, SB6, that would prohibit transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice. The bill would further prevent local governments from passing anti-discriminations measures that would allow companies to adopt their own bathroom policies.

Virginia lawmaker Robert Marshall recently filed a similar bill in his state, adding a provision that school principals notify student’s parents if the student asks to be “treated as the opposite sex.” In 2015, the delegate proposed legislation that would legalize anti-LGBTQ segregation in schools, hospitals and businesses across his state.

Pro-LGBTQ corporations who pulled their business or otherwise challenged North Carolina's HB-2 law had a strong impact on the state, costing the government close to $400 million in revenue.