"[Ball] delivers both an insightful history and an excellent road map for any group seeking progressive social change." -- Publishers Weekly "Carlos Ball takes up the fascinating question of why, at the turn of the twenty-first century, corporations shifted from being the targets of pro-LGBT activism to being the sources of that activism. The answer is a tale of morals and markets in which the corporation emerges as an 'unlikely hero' . Only someone with Ball's knowledge of that movement could have recognized this complicated protagonist and afforded it such a subtle biography." --Kenji Yoshino, author of Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights "In this insightful, deeply engaging book, Carlos Ball shows how the influence of big business was harnessed to promote LGBTQ equality, becoming a bulwark against homophobic and exclusionary laws. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of American politics." --Adam Winkler, author of We the Corporations "Ball masterfully tells the stories that inevitably led to a fundamental shift in corporate America's relationship with its employees, its customers, and with American law and policy." --Mary Bonauto, Civil Rights Project director for GLAD, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders "A must-read for anyone seeking to harness the power of business to drive change in the new economy.

" --Aaron Hurst, author of The Purpose Economy "Ball makes a powerful case for LGBTQ activism aimed at the private sector while critically assessing the values and risks of corporations engaging in public policy issues in a democracy. This is a beautifully written and compelling book for anyone who is interested in the role companies can play in promoting social change and reforms for the betterment of society." --Alice Korngold, author of A Better World Inc. and CEO of Korngold Consulting "Carlos Ball explores the colorful history, the smart playbook of tactics, and the combination of values and self-interest that have encouraged activists and businesses to join forces again and again to make corporations engines of progress . A concise, clear resource on what works in improving the corporate world and how to move forward." --Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry and author of Why Marriage Matters.