Companies across America have been making groundbreaking (and risky) decisions, founded on solid business cases, for years. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company set an early example in 2004, when it began offering benefits and diversity training to all employees. That same year it received a 100-percent rating on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. In the state of Washington, Boeing was also an early adopter, offering same-sex domestic partner benefits. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says that his company's pro-gay positions are about making its employees proud, and aligning with its corporate values. In Minnesota General Mills reinforced its support of gay marriage by publicly announcing its opposition to the state's ban on gay marriage, which will be voted on in November.