Deconstructing the buy local, support Ma and Pa business myth

I have good liberal minded friends who encourage me "Buy local", "Aschew the evils of corporatism", "Support local businesses". Good, but misplaced statements, let's see why.

1. Local businesses are a product of group think, a culture of locality that may be in the interest of all people and diversity minded, but also may be closed off and hostile.
• If Ma and Pa have not learned about the queers and will not let go of their preconceived notions despite discussion and love, why should I spend my dollars with them.
• Ma and Pa may alternatively be open and totally welcoming of all people....we have some such establishments locally (looking at you Janis Atkins)
2. Top Fortune 500 companies have resources that are brought to bear for diverse populations. These include policy protections, employee resource groups, etc.
• Sorry, I would rather go to a corporate establishment with enumerated policy protecting diverse groups of people, such as those with protections in employment on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or those with domestic partner benefits.
• Companies like Dell, IBM, etc give..and give to organizations doing good work. They also have employee programs in place that empower the individual to donate in ways that mean something to them. Dell's use of the YourCause platform has been a boon to Transgender Education Network of Texas. Not only was last year's TDOR program paid for, but this year we received funds for an employee who volunteered with us. Money in our org pocket means more opportunities at public education - this is good.
3. Big companies employ people locally. Yes, funds funnel to the top....but the other part of that equation is that people that may not have had jobs with insurance, 401k, etc now have it...and they money that those employees are paid feeds the local economy.
• Yes, I admit, a good amount of money also syphons out of town...unless your town is the corporate headquarters.
4. Personal narrative. 
• When I joined my paying gig of the last 15 years I was joining a "wholly owned independent subsidiary of a state company". My trainer was fired because he had PFLAG paraphernalia on his car (1997)
• The business model has always been to empower local businesses through advertising at the small and mid-size market size. I have been involved in helping Mom and Pop businesses improve their reach and service to the community by empowering their voice. That is a democratic idea. That is liberty. That resonates with my core values.
• When we were bought by "big brother" Cox Communications I was able to come out as trans and transition on the job. Why? Because I felt more protected than when we were independently owned. Cox, a corporate structure, had diversity policy in place, training prepped, and domestic partner benefits to hang a hat on if needed. After Cox sold us to our current owners I found out that my existence paid off - gender identity and expression was added to corporate policy.
• Currently, now with a smaller corporate entity again I have some protections, but not explicit in policy...and I have lost the ability to have domestic partner protections.

All this to say that my experience has shown that while there are Walmarts out there, there are also good Fortune 500 corporate entities. Similarly, while there are good, local, and ecologically empowering buying options...there are also one's where I should fear for my safety as a trans woman.

So endeth the lesson....learn more, don't make ridiculous blanket judgements.