Rebranding gay rights as the cause célèbre of corporate America...Something isn't right.

[Bluenorthwest]

23. This OP, and others seem unaware of the years of radical protests

in the streets, in Cathedrals, in DC, in every State Capitol, in every world Capitol.
The OP says this "It doesn't require anyone to take to the streets. No one needs to occupy state buildings. No radical revolution is needed."
But it was needed, it did happen, it's just that most Straight folks ignored it, for years and years and years and years. The fact that some businesses are now on our side is a prize that was won in a thousand ways, up to and including the rise of out LGBT people in large businesses.
You and the OP are walking in on a movie that has been running for decades and reviewing the last few minutes of action. 'Why, they never got arrested or occupied a building' they say, having missed the first few acts of the film. 'It's like it was all handed to them'.
The first actions by ACT UP NY in 1987 were:
March, 1987: Outraged by the government's mismanagement of the AIDS crisis, concerned individuals unite to form the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power. Our first demonstration takes place three weeks later on March 24th on Wall Street, the financial center of the world, to protest the profiteering of pharmaceutical companies (especially Burroughs Wellcome, manufacturer of AZT). Seventeen people are arrested. Shortly after the demonstration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces it will shorten its drug approval process by two years.

June 1, 1987: ACT UP joins other national activist groups in civil disobedience at the White House in Washington, DC. In a display of AIDS-phobia, the police wear rubber gloves while arresting protesters. Another demonstration is held at the Third International Conference on AIDS.

June 4, 1987: When Northwest Orient Airlines refuses passage to people with AIDS (PWAs), ACT UP erupts in protest at the airline's New York offices. Two suits are brought against Northwest. The policy is reversed.
http://www.actupny.org/documents/capsule-home.html

That link will do a year by year for you.
I'm also linking to the text of a Harvey Milk speech, which you should read in it's entirety. Know that when he mentions the CDC he refers to the California Democratic Council. 'Jarvis-Gann' is CA Prop 13, and 'Briggs' is the ballot measure that would have fired all the gay teachers and their allies.
http://www.danaroc.com/guests_harveymilk_122208.html