Wal-Mart shareholders blocked a proposal by a conservative group that would have forced the company to disclose its reasons for doing business in nations with discriminatory policies against women and people with same-sex attractions.

Presented by the National Center for Public Policy Research at the retail giant’s annual shareholders’ meeting, the proposal juxtaposed the company’s international policies with its 2015 opposition to a religious liberty bill in Arkansas.

Last year, Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon spoke out against HB1228, which would have allowed individuals with religious objections against same-sex “marriages” to avoid being forced to participate in the ceremonies. “Every day, in our stores, we see firsthand the benefits diversity and inclusion have on our associates, customers and communities we serve,” said McMillon. “It all starts with our core basic belief of respect for the individual.”

“Today’s passage of HB1228 threatens to undermine the spirit of inclusion present throughout the state of Arkansas and does not reflect the values we proudly uphold,” he said. “For these reasons, we are asking Governor Hutchinson to veto this legislation.”

Conservative Opposition

McMillon eventually backed a compromise bill signed by Hutchinson days later, but proponents of religious liberty for those opposed to same-sex marriage have remained skeptical of the company’s commitment to religious freedom. Conservatives have accused the company of hypocrisy for opposing the original legislation given Wal-Mart’s international presence in countries that legalize the killing of homosexuals.

“As one of the nation’s wealthiest companies and biggest brands, Wal-Mart should use its scale and voice to promote a liberty- and free enterprise-based agenda that elevates its company, its investors and its consumers,” said National Center Free Enterprise Project Director Justin Danhof in a press release. “However, in the realm of religious liberty, Wal-Mart has unfortunately employed its considerable heft in fighting against freedom. Our shareholder proposal today explained the truth about religious freedom laws and exposed the company’s duplicity on the issue.”

“While speaking in opposition to longstanding principles protecting religious freedom, Mr. McMillon extolled the virtues of diversity and inclusion,” continued Danhof. “Walmart operates in nations where homosexuality is outlawed. In some of those countries, homosexual acts are punishable by death. Women have almost no rights in some of these places. And try getting a fair trial in many of these nations. What’s diverse and inclusive about that?”

Shareholders overwhelmingly voted against the proposal, though Wal-Mart reported that so few shares were represented that this overwhelming support represented only about 0.69 percent of the company’s shares.

The company’s board also opposed the proposal, saying on Page 89 of its 2016 Notice of Annual Shareholders’ Meeting and Proxy Statement, “The selection of where we conduct business is based on a wide range of factors relating to our overall business strategies, but our Company’s basic values and principles apply everywhere we do business. We believe that our company’s commitment to human rights already is demonstrated by our transparency and leadership as described above and as can be explored in further detail on our corporate website at http://corporate.walmart.com/global-responsibility.”

“Accordingly, we believe the requested report is unnecessary and would not provide meaningful information to shareholders,” concluded the board.

For Danhof, the key issue is Wal-Mart’s opposition to religious freedom for defenders of natural marriage. “Corporations and the mainstream media have expressed concern that religious freedom laws will lead to discrimination, in part, against homosexuals,” he told shareholders. “There is zero evidence for this concern. These laws only require the government to avoid interfering with religious freedom if it can do so while still achieving important government goals — one of which, in every state of the union, is outlawing discrimination.”