Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein in Same-Sex Marriage Ad

By Susanna Kim | ABC News – Mon, Feb 6, 2012 10:44 AM EST

Goldman Sachs' Lloyd Blankfein has become the first major CEO to lend his support to the Americans for Marriage Equality campaign promoting same-sex marriage.

In a 30-second video, Blankfein said, "America's corporations learned long ago that equality is just good business and is the right thing to do."

The video was released on Monday by the Human Rights Campaign on its website and on YouTube. Blankfein's ad is the twelfth video for the campaign which has included notable figures including  New York Giants' owner Steve Tisch, whose ad was released in June, actor John Leguizamo and NFL Cleveland Browns' linebacker Scott Fujita. The  Human Rights Campaign launched Americans for Marriage Equality in October 2011 with Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, N.J.

"Corporate America has long since been a leading agent of change and progress for LGBT equality," Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement.  "While the federal government continues to discriminate against committed and loving same-sex couples, America's companies and executives like Goldman Sachs and Lloyd Blankfein have made equality for LGBT people a top priority."

Investment bank Goldman Sachs, based in New York City, has a non-discrimination policy in place that includes sexual orientation.

Goldman Sachs and other investment banks have attracted criticism from groups like Occupy Wall Street for supporting wealth inequality. But Goldman Sachs' average employee bonus was down over 50 percent last year. According to a regulatory filing on Friday, Blankfein's bonus was cut in 2011, but he received $7 million in restricted shares, down from $12.6 million in 2010. He also reportedly has a base salary of about $2 million.

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  • Boondogle
    Boondogle  •  Denver, Colorado  •  3 months ago
    He believes in an equal opportunity to steal your money!
  • Jeff
    Jeff  •  3 months ago
    Blankfein said, "America's corporations learned long ago that equality is just good business and is the right thing to do."

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
    • Munkee W
      Munkee W 3 months ago
      The fact that he said that with a straight face in the first place means he would make a great politician.
    • Rhyno
      Rhyno 3 months ago
      Ha Ha Ha...Nice one Jeff. Thumbs up.
  • Will
    Will  •  Southfield, Michigan  •  3 months ago
    What this vermin is doing with this ad is no different than what he does with Congress -- he's bribing you and trying to buy your favor.

    These people -- they need to get on somebody's good side, anybody's, they don't care whose. They need to make friends in this climate where people are about to throw them off the roofs of buildings.

    What do you expect from a sub-species that has no values of its own? They don't think twice about whoring themselves out for a buck. That's all this is.

    "Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws."

    -- House of Rothschilds,
  • Robert
    Robert  •  3 months ago
    You people are amazing, "keep the government out of my life...unless it does what I want". Do you hear yourselves?
    • Ima ME
      Ima ME 3 months ago
      that is their job, isn't it LOL
  • CDoyle
    CDoyle  •  3 months ago
    LOL! The CEO of Goldman talking about doing the right thing in business????? HYSTERICAL!!!
  • goodpoint
    goodpoint  •  Hermosa Beach, California  •  3 months ago
    Does marriage equality include polygamy or do they really mean just homosexual marriage?
    • Spc. Darkside
      Spc. Darkside 3 months ago
      polygamy is illegal because some guy couldn't get one wife, and figured if i can't have a lot, no one should.
  • Harry Johnson
    Harry Johnson  •  Harrisburg, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
    Talk about trying to refashion your image...
  • shanil
    shanil  •  3 months ago
    How about support for lowering CEO annual bonus?
  • Lori S
    Lori S  •  3 months ago
    We should know all these corporations are bi, they are out to screw everybody.
  • Bennett
    Bennett  •  3 months ago
    Nice try, but corporations are in it for the money, not the morals.
  • T
    T  •  3 months ago
    Great PR. But everyone knows you are #$%$ Lloyd. The #$%$ of the earth.
  • John
    John  •  Fort Lauderdale, Florida  •  3 months ago
    Goldman Sachs knows very well what it means to screw someone in the arse.
  • Hollywood Hills
    Hollywood Hills  •  Studio City, California  •  3 months ago
    LEVITICUS QUOTERS, YOU FORGOT A COUPLE… Here’s your FAV…
    Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with a man, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall be put to death…
    NOW, HERE ARE THE ONES YOU DIDN’T QUOTE….

    Leviticus 20:9 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be put to death

    Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death.

    Leviticus 24:16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death

    Remember… this is the inerrant word of God… you can't just obey ONE... you have to OBEY them ALL... and good luck with THAT. (If I read Leviticus 20:10 right, it looks like you may have to put Newt Gingrich, Governor Sanford, David Vitter, and John Ensign to death… along with the women they slept with)

    VOTE GOP 2012 – WE’LL MAKE THEM CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
    • Robert
      Robert 3 months ago
      Amazing how they only accept what they want.
    • Ima ME
      Ima ME 3 months ago
      Their "Christian" values alone is reason why I'd never vote Republican! They are the biggest bunch of hypocrites alive and only have 2 things in mind, dam near FORCE "Christian values" on American people-MAJOR #$%$and the super rich. They could care less about.....80% of the American people, just read what Mitt said about the poor
    • bruds
      bruds 3 months ago
      Ima ME
      im not a christian but christian values are not bad. what you are talking about is not christian values. thats bigoted values. and to not vote for one party because of their religious beliefs is completely stupid. but im sure you are one that voted in the last election based on skin color and not merit. it saddens me to think that people who put down christianity for being hypocritical are just as bad as the closed minded fools that shout drudge in the name of religion. and ya know what else this is coming from a gay man. religion is not a bad things its where people take it to thats bad
  • Homer G
    Homer G  •  3 months ago
    He needs to be lynched for taking billions away from the people.
  • RJP
    RJP  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
    He received $7 million in restricted shares, reportedly has a base salary of about $2 million.

    Must be living pay check to pay check? Oh wait thats me!!!!!
  • UnitedWeStand
    UnitedWeStand  •  3 months ago
    I would rather have him support returning all the tax payers money.
    • greg w
      greg w 3 months ago
      He and they have done that a few years ago....didn't get the message
  • Paul
    Paul  •  New York, New York  •  3 months ago
    He made almost 9 million this year compared to 12 million last year. He does not speak for the average american.
  • MikeD
    MikeD  •  Olympia, Washington  •  3 months ago
    Don't let the Fed get into non-fed business. If marriage were left to the churches and there were no deductions or benefits for marriage, then this war would not need to be fought.
  • Guy
    Guy  •  3 months ago
    'equality is just good business?' Well, as long as it doesn't apply to salary, right Lloyd?
  • The Thinker
    The Thinker  •  3 months ago
    Something for homophobic people to think about: Most of you will one day have a son, or daughter, or grandchild, or niece or nephew tell you he or she is gay. What will you do? Blurt out some stupid anti-gay joke to him? Tell her you don't love her anymore? Or, perhaps, you can start figuring out how to approach the issue with some acceptance and tolerance. Or you may be in for a very lonely and bitter life.
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