J.B. Hunt shareholders approved today a request to amend company policy to specifically prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Details from Northwest Arkansas Online. About 54 percent of the company stock was voted in favor.

The Board of the Arkansas-based national trucking company had recommended a vote against the proposal because it said existing employment policies provided adequate protection.

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Maybe Sen. Bart Hester, who’s worked at J.B. Hunt, can pass a law protecting Arkansas companies from extending equal rights to LGBT people even when stockholders approve. The “religious protection” legislation that Hester supported and the governor signed in theory does just that. J.B. Hunt can fire a driver for being gay and explain it was a matter of deeply held religious beliefs of a supervisor that one shouldn’t have to work with the gays.

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