Telstra CEO Andy Penn, pictured, has put his personal values and those of Telstra firmly behind the push for a “yes” vote in the current battle over recognition of equal marriage rights for the LGBT community.

In a major announcement at the weekend, Penn said marriage equality is “not just a single cause for us, but a universal ambition to provide support for the many walks of life who choose to work and do business with us … We support diversity and inclusion heart and soul at the most senior levels so we support marriage equality …

“Making those programs work – and they have worked – has required courage, creativity and a determination to challenge traditional approaches. I am convinced we are a better organisation for it, just as I am convinced we should support marriage equality.”

Penn is the second major CEO pushing the resources of his company behind equal marriage rights. The openly gay Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has also put his own and Qantas’s resources behind the push for equality.