Exxon Mobil says it will comply with new federal protections for gay, transgender workers

Exxon Mobil Corp. says it will comply with new protections for gay and transgender employees required of federal contractors, but isn't saying whether it will formalize that wording in its corporate policies.

President Barack Obama signed the executive order with the new protections Monday.

The energy company, which has hundreds of millions in federal contracts, has resisted pressure from civil rights groups and shareholders to enumerate such protections in its formal policy.

Many companies have added anti-gay bias as an explicit part of their non-discrimination policies. Exxon Mobil has maintained that its stated zero-tolerance standards ensure protections without having to specifically name them.

Exxon Mobil spokesman Alan Jeffers said Tuesday the company will "comply with all governmental laws." He wouldn't say if that meant changing the formal policy's language.