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Microsoft
Reverses Course -– Again
Supports Gay
Rights
by 365Gay.com
From the Web, May 6, 2005
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Seattle, Washington --
Microsoft came full circle Friday, announcing that it would once again support
LGBT civil rights.
"After looking at the question from all sides, I've concluded that diversity
in the workplace is such an important issue for our business that it should be
included in our legislative agenda," company CEO Steve Ballmer said in an email
letter Friday to employees.
Last month it was learned that Microsoft had rescinded its endorsement of a gay
rights bill that was before the Washington state legislature. The bill was
defeated by a single vote in the Senate. It had already passed the House
before Microsoft's rejection became known.
It was then learned that the Microsoft decision to withdraw its support for the
bill followed a meeting between the company and the leader of an evangelical
church located a stone's throw from Microsoft's Redmond headquarters.
The Rev. Ken Hutcherson allegedly threatened a national boycott of Microsoft if
it did not disavow itself from the gay rights bill that would have made
discrimination against members of the LGBT community illegal.
As details of the meeting emerged there was a storm of protest from Washington's
gay community.
Ballmer then sent an email to employees claiming that the company had made its
decision before the legislative session began that it should to narrow its focus
on a shorter list of issues directly affecting the business.
But, that explanation, in light of details of the meeting between Microsoft and
Hutcherson, failed to appease the company's sizable LGBT workforce or gays
across the country. Even an attempt by Microsoft chair Bill Gates to quiet
opposition failed.
"Next time this one comes around, we'll see," Gates told the Seattle Times on
May 1. "We certainly have a lot of employees who sent us mail. Next
time it comes around that'll be a major factor for us to take into
consideration."
US Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) in a letter to Microsoft general counsel Bradford
L. Smith, Frank said he had trouble believing the company position.
"Having read [that] you denied that right-wing pressure was a factor, I am
unconvinced. It is generally my experience that when highly intelligent
people such as yourself say things which are implausible, some other reason must
be involved."
Microsoft's LGBT workforce also had a problem with the company's credibility.
GLEAM, Microsoft's LGBT workers organization refused to accept Gates' promise to
reexamine the company's position if the rights bill were to resurface.
GLEAM demanded that Microsoft make its decision now.
"We are deeply concerned about the way the decision was made, the failure to
anticipate its impact, and our inability to quickly repair the damage once it
had become evident," the group said in an open letter to Ballmer. "This
shook our trust in executive management, and has left us feeling abandoned,
depressed, and embarrassed for Microsoft."
(Emphasis added.)
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