How Microsoft Tripped Over Gay Rights

wsj.com ^ | May 11, 2005 | Alan Murray

[The_Republican]

Microsoft Corp.'s clumsy triple lutz over gay-rights legislation has landed the company at center ice in the U.S.'s culture wars. As Procter & Gamble Co. already has learned, that is a very uncomfortable place to be.

The problem began earlier this year, when Microsoft, under pressure from a conservative National Football League linebacker-turned-preacher, decided to stay neutral in the battle over a bill in its home state of Washington banning workplace discrimination against homosexuals. That seemed a reasonable decision. The company has been a leader in providing benefits to gays in its own work force. Why should it feel obliged to join the battle outside?

Gay and liberal activists, however, saw it differently. They attacked Microsoft for abandoning its principles. After being pummeled by a barrage of emotional emails and blogs, the company reversed course. In a message to employees Friday, Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said he had concluded that "diversity in the workplace is such an important issue for our business that it should be included in our legislative agenda."

The flip-flop was too late to help the bill, which had been defeated by a single vote in the state senate two weeks earlier. But it wasn't too late to stir the ire of religious conservatives. And it seemed to signal that the company would bend to pressure.

"If they were poker players, they'd be out of the game right now," says Ken Hutcherson, the preacher whose pressure is credited with provoking Microsoft's initial decision to stay out of the legislative battle.

Jack Krumholz, who heads Microsoft's legislative efforts, says Mr. Ballmer's latest decision is a stand on principle. Events in the state capital of Olympia, he says, became "a catalyst for us to develop a framework for dealing with this issue."

[The_Republican]

Related articles have been posted, but this is from WSJ.

Most interesting to me is Allan Marray, chose "ICE-SKATING" sports analogy to tackle Gay Rights issue.

Also One look at the Microsoft executives, and you know they are both MICRO and SOFT.

[Lancey Howard]

I would say, "Time to switch to Apple", but that company also supports sodomy and perversion.

[SlowBoat407]

I would say, "Time to switch to Apple", but that company also supports sodomy and perversion.

Yes, but as many are quick to point out, Apple only has 2% of the market share, so they can't support it nearly as much! (Mac fanatic, by the way)

[Jaysun]

Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said he had concluded that "diversity in the workplace is such an important issue for our business that it should be included in our legislative agenda."

It's amazing that an entire nation can be kowtowed into embracing a farce like "diversity". There isn't a single shred of evidence that it's in any way beneficial, yet we hurry to obey the demands of diversity - from the Supreme Court's ruling on college admissions to this and everything in between.

[NativeNewYorker]

http://linuxiso.org/index.php

[Old Professer]

How Microsoft Tripped Over Gay Rights

Slipped on a slick floor?

[Libertarianize the GOP]

Microsoft thinks that all Washington State Businesses should be compelled to serve the public good as defined by government. If Microsoft really believes in such a principle then they had absolutely no reason to fight against being declared a monopoly, broken up and sold off to serve the public good.

[Paloma_55]

I would say, "Time to switch to Apple", but that company also supports sodomy and perversion.

Someone should do a study on how the homosexual movement has been so successful at getting large corporations to endorse their lifestyles. I believe it would be a great masters thesis.

I believe part of their success lies in the fact that there are usually a few closet homosexuals in any organization who will do whatever they can to advance the agenda covertly.

This goes for news organizations, politicians and judicial activists.

Think about it. If a judge owned 10,000 shares of MicroSoft stock, he could not sit in judgment on a case involving MicroSoft and would be required to recuse himself from the case.

But if that same judge were a closet homosexual that owned no MicroSoft stock, but was hearing a case against MicroSoft regarding their policies on anti-discrimination of homosexuals, he would probably *not* recuse himself and very likely let his bias rule against them.

I think it is the fear of such judges that has led corporate America to embrace homosexual activism to the extent they have.

[HAL9000]

I would say, "Time to switch to Apple", but that company also supports sodomy and perversion.

But it's not part of Apple's "legislative agenda". Microsoft will actively lobby Congress and the Oregon legislature for gay marriage with your money.

[vox_freedom]

But it's not part of Apple's "legislative agenda". Microsoft will actively lobby Congress and the Oregon legislature for gay marriage with your money.

Maybe Microsoft will hire the newly available Jim West to assist in getting their legislative agenda through.