NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The nation's largest companies have become leaders in extending rights to gay, bisexual and transgender employees, according to a published report Monday.

The Washington Post, citing a study by the advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, reports that among the Fortune 500, 216 companies, or more than 40 percent, provided domestic partner benefits. That's about 10 times the number that offered those benefits a decade ago.

In addition 415, or 83 percent, of the Fortune 500, included sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies.

Among the Fortune 50, 49 have statements prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and executives with the 50th, oil company Exxon Mobil (Research), say that the company's policy prohibits "discrimination or harassment for any reason, including sexual orientation."

The study also found that 51 companies' non-discrimination policies included gender identity and expression as protected from discrimination, up from 27 in 2003.

"As we suspected, corporate America is well ahead of America generally in terms of extending basic rights to all people," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign.

To read about a Christian group announcing a boycott of Ford Motor Co. (Research) for its support of gay rights and gay groups, click here.