Seattle man who helped launch Microsoft left $65M for gay rights

The Seattle Times ^ | Feb. 24, 2008 | Kristi Heim

[steve86]

Ric Weiland, who helped his friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen launch Microsoft, was a quiet philanthropist. But his final gift has provided one of the most powerful financial boosts ever to the gay-rights movement.

Weiland has left $65 million to the Pride Foundation in Seattle and 10 nonprofit organizations, believed to be the largest estate gift ever given to the gay and lesbian community in the U.S.

His generosity didn't stop there.

Weiland left $160 million, the majority of his estate, to charity. That includes a gift to Stanford University estimated to be worth $60 million, which the university said is the largest bequest it has ever received. Weiland also gave significant amounts toward environmental protection and scientific research.

Weiland, one of the first five Microsoft employees, committed suicide in 2006 at age 53.

[steve86]

Oh great.

[Senator Goldwater]

Brokeback Bank.

[RussP]

“Weiland, one of the first five Microsoft employees, committed suicide in 2006 at age 53.”

If I had that kind of money, I’d like to think I could find an alternative to suicide.

[steve86]

ping

[Reaganite1984]

That includes a gift to Stanford University estimated to be worth $60 million, which the university said is the largest bequest it has ever received.

Somehow I doubt any of that cash is going to find its way into the coffers of the Hoover Inst.

[KC_Conspirator]

Sofwate bug-gery.

[robomatik]

[Cementjungle]

Weiland, one of the first five Microsoft employees, committed suicide in 2006 at age 53.

And they're just reading his will now?

[smalltownslick]

Pride. In what???

[Antoninus]

Not surprising. Money and the power that comes with it are seductive and corrupting influences. It’s for this reason that Christ said: “It is harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

[cherry]

suicide?......well, he must have been a happy, successful, and fulfilled individual....NOT!

[DocH]

THIXTY-Five MILLION?!

[tflabo]

"It's a gigantic investment in our equal-rights movement," said Zan McColloch-Lussier, the Pride Foundation's director of communications. "It will be here long after our kids' kids are gone."

Unless Gay men form children-bearing pacts with the Lesbians then kids's kids ain't a happening!

[domenad]

I hope one of those alternatives would be handing all that money over to me, because my Transformers collection really needs some new additions.

[nyconse]

Notice how money is never given to organizations that promote freedom?

[steve86]

Much of this money is earmarked for public “education”. This scares the hell out of me with my two girls in Washington State Schools (the rural public schools have been fine, but this will probably change). We can’t begin to afford private schools so will have to do a huge amount of counter-gay reprogramming at home.

[robomatik]

ric looks tho’ happy in thhhat pikthure. bill looksh a little uncomforthable...

[trumandogz]

At the the Feds will not get their paws on this money.

[aynrandfreak]

Weiland also gave significant amounts toward environmental protection

Sounds like an attempt at murder/suicide in reverse (murder of Western Civilization)

[geopyg]

Thanks for the article. I read it in the Times. Yes, he was gay. He had severe depression. He killed himself. And gives $65 million to promote his former condition. (Plus $60 million to Stanford and millions elsewhere too to be fair). I hope he has found the peace and wholeness that eluded him in life.

[Azzurri]

Weiland has left $65 million to the Pride Foundation in Seattle

What an idiot.

[DocH]

Probably the idiot goofball that came up with the "You have performed an illegal operation" error.

Drama queen geek.

[Hildy]

that’s the rub with homosexuals...deep down inside, they know what they are is wrong...no amount of parading, ranting and raving, can change that. That’s why it’s so important to them to have all of us tell them they’re ok. It really very sad when you think about it.

[steve86]

The full article says that Gates was comfortable with the guy’s fagness all along.

[trumandogz]

At least the Feds will not get their paws on this money.

[ROP_RIP]

Something tells me that giving $65 million to Satan's minions has not helped his case.

What a sad story.

[steve86]

It is odd; I was in IT my whole career here in eastern WA and don’t recall hearing the name before. Probably did somewhere along the line.

[trumandogz]

If you do not like what he did with his money, you are free to leave 65 million to a Pro Family Group.

[Reaganite1984]

I'm not so sure.

One multimillionaire out of, what, a hundred thousand or so, doesn't strike me as a pandemic condition.

[steve86]

What’s your point? Do you like what he did with his money?

[paltz]

I think you have that backwards:

it's :

it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:24.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Ric Weiland

"..The King County Medical Examiner's Office said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on 24 June 2006. He was reported to have suffered from clinical depression..."

Just speculating, but he could have been HIV Positive.

[Antoninus]

Something tells me that giving $65 million to Satan's minions has not helped his case. What a sad story.

Committed suicide. -- Strike one.

$65 million to an org that promotes sodomy. -- Strike two.

Sadly, it only takes one strike to send you to the hot place. I pray he repented of his actions at the moment of his death.

[max americana]

It’s his money...

Unfortunately, I agree he could’ve picked another cause to leave/bequeath his $$$ to.

This will probably fund a couple more gay pride parades in Seattle.

[Antoninus]

I think you have that backwards:

You're right, of course. Arrrgh. Tired and sick is no way to post.

[robomatik]

bingo!

[null and void]

What an idiot.

It's not like he could take it with him...

[taxesareforever]

The full article says that Gates was comfortable with the guy’s fagness all along.

No surprise here. When he funds vaccines to fight AIDs instead of education to stop homosexual practices, it doesn't take a genius to know his stand on homosexuality.

[Antoninus]

"..The King County Medical Examiner's Office said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on 24 June 2006. He was reported to have suffered from clinical depression..."

Just speculating, but he could have been HIV Positive.

Perhaps, but just being a homosexual puts you in a risk category for every other conceivable mental disorder--addictions, narcissistic personality, anxiety, depression, you name it. It's never a sign of positive mental health to want to bugger other men.

[ElkGroveDan]

Weiland, one of the first five Microsoft employees, committed suicide in 2006 at age 53.

But once again we all have to chant the mantra that they are perfectly normal and there are no psychiatric issues with men who worship rectums.

[steve86]

I quit using MS products in about ‘97, partly because of his support for left wing social causes.

[trumandogz]

It was his money, he could have left it to his family and friends, burned it in his fire place or let the Feds get their grubby paws on it. It really is not my place to decide or judge what other people do with their money.

But, if you die with 65 million, you can do with it as you wish. I will not judge you.

[GOPPachyderm]

Well I hope they have one heck of a party.

[mylife]

Was he an uploader or a downloader?

[weegee]

Pride is one of the 7 deadly sins.

They take pride in celebrating the sin of same sex sodomy. Sodomy, an act named after the city of Sodom.

[G Larry]

>...committed suicide in 2006 at age 53...<

He left the money to groups who want people to be just as happy in life as he was....../sarc

[uptoolate]

Homeschool.

[al baby]

it was on mirosoft word and it would not open with vista that the lawyer used

[steve86]

Homeschool

Well, my wife does some of that as an adjunct to the lower grades, but I couldn't be less suitable personality wise for teaching (zero patience, etc.)

[Lancey Howard]

Well, it was his money and if he wants to selfishly flush it down the toilet, that's his right. It's just a shame he had no thought for maybe providing scholarships for the children of U.S. servicemen killed in action, or providing prosthetics to wounded servicemen, or fighting cancer and disease, or.... anything besides promoting sodomy.