This issue fits a larger pattern. Many big corporations promote an image of decency. They claim to value all of their employees and customers. They claim to care about the state of American democracy and the quality of our schools. But when these same corporations are faced with hard political choices — like whether to bankroll politicians who oppose equality, or whether to damage city budgets by using shady tax loopholes — their principles suddenly take a back seat.

I understand why big companies might prefer to avoid tough issues and simply spread around their campaign donations to maximize their influence. I don’t see any problem with these corporations giving money to politicians on both sides of the abortion debate, for example, because the companies don’t claim to be “pro-life” or “pro-choice.” But they do claim to have a position on L.G.B.T. equality. They say that it’s part of their corporate values, yet they support politicians who treat L.G.B.T. Americans as second-class citizens.

Imagine if AT&T, Pfizer, UBS and the other companies mentioned here took a different stance. Imagine if they said they were willing to back politicians of either party who took diverging positions on any number of issues, so long as those politicians didn’t violate any of the companies’ core values. That approach could actually make a difference, because members of Congress rely on financial support from corporate America.

Instead, the companies are putting profit and influence over their own employees — which suggests that their stated corporate values aren’t very meaningful.

“We stand in support of the L.G.B.T.Q. community members every day,” Corey Anthony, AT&T’s chief diversity officer, recently said. “As an ally, our support is long standing and unwavering.”

Unwavering, eh?

Corporate responses

My colleague Ian Prasad Philbrick and I reached out to all the companies mentioned here for responses, but I didn’t find any of their explanations persuasive. Several pointed out that the Human Rights Campaign has recognized them as having inclusive policies for L.G.B.T. employees. I’ve excerpted the responses below.

Peter Stack, a UBS spokesman: “Our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is unwavering. The UBS political action committee, which gives equally to Republicans and Democrats, is designed to support members of Congress who we believe promote responsible economic and investment policies at the federal level.”