Microsoft abandons gays

[Jon8503]

by John in DC - 4/20/2005 07:04:00 PM

NOTE: This post is long because it's important. What I describe in detail below, Microsoft caving to religious right extremists, is not just outrageous and unprecedented, it's downright dangerous for all of our civil rights considering the precedent Microsoft has just set for other businesses that follow its lead. We have a little over 24 hours for Microsoft make things right, otherwise Microsoft may have just killed a major gay rights bill out west.

If anyone out there has inside phone numbers and email addresses for the Microsoft brass, please email them to me. I have some email and phone contacts at the end of this post, PLEASE USE THEM. Thanks.
----------

MICROSOFT SECRETLY PULLS SUPPORT FOR GAY RIGHTS BILL IN WASHINGTON STATE TO CURRY FAVOR WITH RELIGIOUS RIGHT

Microsoft Corporation pulled its support for a gay rights bill in Washington state last month after complaints from a single radical right anti-gay leader, according to an article just published in the Seattle paper, The Stranger (the article is on the news stands already, online Thursday).

My sources in Washington state tell me that the vote on the bill, expected in two days (Friday), is SO CLOSE that Microsoft's actions may be pivotal in KILLING THE PRO-GAY LEGISLATION.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/04/take-action-microsoft-abandons-gays.html

[Deja Q]

1. So much for Gates the philanthropist.

Glad I'm migrating to Linux/open-source (50% there already).

[fujiyama]

18. That's what I thought

when I noticed that he donated 2k+ dollars to BUsh over the election.

Fuck him. He doesn't care about a "better world" for anyone but himself. Him and his company can go fuck themselves.

[goddess40]

2. is it an excuse to save money?

We all know how Microsoft is struggling ;)

Maybe they did the math and now their using the "kissing up to the right or they'll ruin us" to keep the dollars in the stockholders pockets?

One step forward to steps back - disgusting to make gestures that they are going to do the right thing and then take it away.

[crispini]

3. Oh, this is bad, bad, bad.

Kicked and nominated. I'll send the emails shortly and the phone calls tomorrow.

[readmoreoften]

4. discrimination is trendy n/t

[MazeRat7]

5. Micro$oft is and will always be evil....

They are in the game for domination and money, they will do nothing that might impede that prime directive.

[wuushew]

6. Is this allegation made other than on this blog?

You know like public records or open meeting laws? We only have this guy's word.

[sonicx]

8. The article was published in a newspaper...

Will be online tommorrow.

[jono]

13. Yes, the pastor of the church

testified against the bill in front of the senate Financial Insitutions, Housing, and Consumer Protection Committee on March 22, and during that testimony he bragged about it. "'You won't hear about Microsoft standing behind H.B. 1515 because I'm dealing with Microsoft on that issue and will be dealing with Gates on that issue...' he said."

Also, the prime sponsor of the bill, Ed Murray, is quoted extensively as is a member of GLEAM (on condition of anonymity). The article hit the streets tonight but it will be available tomorrow at www.thestranger.com .

[On Par]

7. I've Seen So Many Urban Legends About Bill Gates...

...that I'm really skeptical about this one.

[sendero]

20. Really?

Care to name a few. Personally, the truth is bad enough.

[beyurslf]

9. When it is available online at the newspaper, please re-post.

I can't go out and assume Microspft and Bill Gates are reversing 15 years of progress because of one blog report. Thanks!

[tavalon]

11. Yeah, that's where I stand on this too

I used to call Microsoft the evil empire but now I have a partner who works there and a lot of friends who work there (care to guess where I now live?) and I have to say that from an employee standpoint, Microsoft is very progressive.

[Jon8503]

23. Actually it is 3 or more blog reports

[jono]

25. Article is available online now

MICROSOFT CAVES ON GAY RIGHTS
by Sandeep Kaushik
© 2005 The Stranger
Pressured by Evangelical Minister, Microsoft Withdraws Support for Civil Rights Bill

In a move that angered many of the company's gay employees, the Microsoft Corporation, publicly perceived as the vanguard institution of the new economy, has taken a major political stand in favor of age-old discrimination.

The Stranger has learned that last month the $37-billion Redmond-based software behemoth quietly withdrew its support for House bill 1515, the anti-gay-discrimination bill currently under consideration by the Washington State legislature, after being pressured by the Evangelical Christian pastor of a suburban megachurch. The pastor, Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, met with a senior Microsoft executive in February and threatened to organize a national boycott of the company's products if it did not change its stance on the legislation, according to gay rights activists and a Microsoft employee who attended a subsequent April 4 meeting where Bradford L. Smith, Microsoft's senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary, told a group of gay staffers about Hutcherson's threat. Hutcherson also unsuccessfully demanded that the company fire two employees who had testified in favor of the bill.

State Rep. Ed Murray, a gay Democrat representing Capitol Hill and the prime sponsor of the bill, confirmed that Smith also told him about the pressure from Hutcherson during an awkward and at times heated March 29 conference call in which they discussed the company's decision to end its active support for the bill.

At the April 4 meeting, Smith told members of GLEAM, the gay and lesbian employees group at Microsoft, that the company had switched its official stance to "neutral" on the bill, and took personal responsibility for the decision. He characterized the shift as part of a broader general review of company policy designed to more precisely formulate criteria for determining when Microsoft should involve itself in "social issues," but also disclosed the pressure that had been brought to bear on him by Hutcherson.

<snip>

http://www.thestranger.com/2005-04-21/feature.html

[Jon8503]

27. Interesting - From The Blog; This Guy Is Probably Right, Microsoft

Dear Microsoft, you messed with the wrong faggots
by John in DC - 4/21/2005 12:25:00 PM


Dear Microsoft,
problably would have been better off staying the course.

You messed with the wrong faggots.

You thought you were avoiding a religious right boycott by suddenly going anti-gay. And you may have thought "hell, the evangelicals boycott us, the gays boycott us - we've got to choose one, and the evangelicals are in power, so let's screw the gays."

But here's something you didn't count on. You messed with the wrong faggots.

We have no intent of launching a boycott. Boycotts are hard to enforce, especially when dealing with a monopoly. And in any case, we're smarter than that. We're the country's top lobbyists, and grassroots activists, and lawyers, and politicos, and bloggers working in both Washingtons (state and DC).

When we fuck back, we don't launch boycotts. When we fuck back, we go for the jugular.
(rest on the blog) http://www.americablog.org/

[Jon8503]

33. Is The New York Times OK For A Repost?

Microsoft Comes Under Fire for Reversal on Gay Rights Bill
By SARAH KERSHAW
Published: April 22, 2005


SEATTLE, April 21 - The Microsoft Corporation, at the forefront of corporate gay rights for decades, is coming under fire from gay rights groups, politicians and its own employees for withdrawing its support for a state bill that would have barred discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Many of the critics accused the company of bowing to pressure from a prominent evangelical church in Redmond, Wash., located a few blocks from Microsoft's sprawling headquarters.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/22/national/22gay.html?hp&ex=1114228800&en=ae09414715e2bbf0&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[aeolian]

10. ...be honest: did you really want to see "Microsoft Gay?" (n/t)

[SnowBack]

12. What the heck does THAT mean? (n/t)

[Behind the Aegis]

14. I second Snowback's...HUH?

What are you saying?

[Jon8503]

22. What do you really mean?

[walldude]

15. Yeah, I'm going to need more evidence on this,

Microsoft is known for openly paying health insurance benefits for gay partners...

[jono]

16. From the article:

The employee {and member of GLEAM} stressed that {Microsoft's internal anti-discrimination policies} are indeed comprehensive and progressive. The employee pointed out that Microsoft has recently added gender identity to its diversity policy, and has also modified its policies for gay employees in Massachusetts who have legally married to account for the gay rights gain there. "Microsoft is a good place to work for gay and lesbian employees. This is the worst thing that has happened. It was shocking that they wouldn't support this bill," the employee says. This is the case of an otherwise progressive employer getting caught short by the changing political climate."

As for {State Representative and HB 1515's prime sponsor Ed} Murray, he believes the company was faced with a "profound" moral test, which it failed. The backpedaling "sends an incredible message of weakness and shows lack of moral backbone, he says. "I mean, what is this? Is this the 1930s, and are they Krups?"

After meeting with {pastor Ken} Hutcherson, Microsoft had to make a choice: Maintain its longstanding, progressive support for civil rights or side with reactionary forces advocating discrimination. The company chose the latter. The gay Microsoft employee who spoke to The Stranger concluded, "Microsoft needs to feel the pain of a bad decision here."

[Jon8503]

32. No posts from anti-gays!

[earth mom]

17. Not surprised-Microsofts gotta hang on to that Monopoly of theirs. eom

[geekgrrl]

19. Yikes! I'm glad my mac is mostly microsoft free!

Now I just need to get rid of my addiction to Word.

[foreigncorrespondent]

21. Gates...

...and his frumpy old wife have been donating to anti gay groups for years now. If any queer thought Microshit did give a damn for them, then I am truly sorry for them.

[TexasSissy]

24. What is "pro-gay legislation"? What is the bill, exactly? n/t

[jono]

26. It's an employment/housing non-discrimination bill

http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Htm/Bills/House%20Bills/1515.htm

[Jon8503]

28. One other thing on this post. I hope a very good gay friend of

mine knows that I am still fighting a battle for him. I myself am not gay but one of my very best friends was. I can remember the night when I was told by him. And you know, I was not surprised because I deep down knew. I didn't care because I knew if I ever needed anybody, I could count on my friend.

Anyway, with all the crap going on and we seem to be losing most of the battles, its hard to keep fighting. However, every once in a while, one of you speak up. Its so important that we do because there is a large number that has no one to speak for them. I think we have that responsibility to do this.

I know; this is another one of these nights I get blue and ramble. If you could, just remember I do care and only trying to make a difference for those it might help.

Jon

[LeftCoast]

29. Washington Gay Rights Bill Defeated

(Olympia, Washington) A bill to protect LGBT civil rights that was all but dead and then given new life was defeated Thursday in the Washington legislature.

The legislation, which gays had fought for for 30 years would have prohibited discrimination in jobs, housing and insurance.

The measure was defeated in the Senate by a single vote - 25 to 24.

Read More

I think this is the bill they were talking about...and if so it's dead by ONE vote. Thanks Microsoft! I'll remember this, the next time I have to choose an OS.

[Jon8503]

30. Dam; that really sucks. You know just like the post however, the

majority of gays including the heads of the repukes are gay. There are a lot of blue collar and the ones that sneak on this board that can't spell their name. They will lose eventually. Keep fighting.

[New Dealer]

31. Well, Microsoft is happy now (bill was defeated by 1 vote)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002248670_webgayrights21.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

34. How many state senators does Microsoft own?

It's disgusting that the views of one company swings votes in a supposed democratic legislature. Time for the inhabitants of Washington to clean out their corrupt senate, perhaps?