Did commercial enterprises exploit Stonewall 50 to call attention to their product?

This is a letter I sent to the NY Times. But it looks like it will not get in.

"In response to corporate sponsorship of Stonewall 50, University of Massachusetts history professor emeritus William Johnston said “Commercial enterprises are exploiting this event to call attention to their product,” ("Our Golden Milestones," Styles, Aug. 4). That might be an unfair judgement.

"In 2015 CNN reported that "66% of Fortune 500 companies do extend health benefits to employees' same-sex partners." 

Also, Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in 2006 "Corporate America is far ahead of America generally when it comes to the question of equality for GLBT people." 

Maybe corporations want to call attention to their product but they also deserve some credit for their policies which people like professor Johnston most likely support. It serves no social purpose to always cast business in a negative light. If companies engage in enlightened self-interest they have just as much right as anyone else to participate in these types of events and tout their own contributions."