IBM Sponsors Gay Chamber of Commerce

Gfn.com News ^ | 5/22/2003 | Gfn.com News

[Jack Black]

IBM Sponsors Gay Chamber of Commerce

The nation's first National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce or NGLCC, said Thursday they will partner with IBM to launch a diversity development and procurement program to bring technology opportunities to GLBT-owned companies.

The program, says NGLCC, was inspired by the National Minority Supplier Development Council, or NMSDC, a certifying body for minority owned businesses, which creates development and procurement opportunities with major corporations.

"Since GLBT owned businesses do not qualify as minority businesses under NMSDC guidelines, tremendous financial opportunities are forfeited," said NGLCC's co-founder Chance Mitchell.

IBM will be the founding corporate sponsor of the NGLCC Diversity Development and Procurement Program.

"We are excited at the prospect of having a national organization that can effectively advocate on behalf of GBLT business owners," said Irwin Drucker, the program director for IBM's Gay & Lesbian Supplier Relations.

IBM is the largest buyer in the private sector, with purchases second only in total dollars spent to the federal government, and has been a leader in establishing corporate policies that ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as well as offering domestic partnership benefits.

The move to launch the program comes as NGLCC has been meeting with corporate diversity managers and GLBT business owners, to determine if certification as a GLBT owned business was needed to create an avenue in which GLBT America can do business with Corporate America.

The NGLCC will serve as the certifying body for GLBT businesses and as the direct link to Corporate America for the purposes of diversity supplier contracts. The NGLCC expects to have the program operational by the fall.

Source: Gfn.com News

[Jack Black]

Wonder how this ties in with the outsourcing to India?

[Darksheare]

Gay Chamber of Commerce has so many bad images associated with those words.
The sound of it itself sounds bad.

[Paul Atreides]

IBM = International Butt Muncher

[Buffalo Bob]

Before long, only Indian Homosexuals will have IT jobs.

[Darksheare]

Intercontinental B@lltastic Molars?

[Cindy]

International Healing Foundation

[Dr. Eckleburg]

It's getting stupider and stupider.

Maybe that's how they'll stop. When the world laughs at you and not with you, your future is shakey.

[Capt. Tom]

IBM = International Butt Muncher

You can still call IBM Big Blew. -Tom

[Darksheare]

Sorry, the gays in my area do recruit.
Quite often.
They even had a hand in school curriculum that was going to teach third and fourth graders the "Joys of fisting, S&M, bondage, Gay lesbian and bisexual activites, beastiality," and other deviations.
Third and fourth graders.
Now if THAT isn't an agenda, what is?
And if that isn't recruiting, what is?
The PARENTS got wind of it, and slammed the school board, the school board backpedaled like a slapped dog. The curriculum was pulled, and they reinstituted the supremely dumbed down "Goals 2000" curriculum again. Yes, outcome based education.

[dark_lord]

Ummm...not to defend IBM here, but the article title is incorrect. The actual correct statement in the article body says: IBM will be the founding corporate sponsor of the NGLCC Diversity Development and Procurement Program.

They are "sponsoring" a program, not a particular chamber of commerce. And they are undoubtably "sponsoring" it because they are making money by doing so. IBM is like any other services firm -- you pay them money, they perform services. Gay people's money is as green as straight people's money. Heh heh.

[Ohioan]

Wonder how this ties in with the outsourcing to India?

I don't know, but any businessman, who chooses to build his business associations around sexual deviancy, must have some loose fasteners in his cerebral makeup. Why don't we send the whole NGLCC to India. Maybe the Hindus can figure out what to do with them. They are, after all, much more tolerant of 'sacred cows' than I can even pretend to be.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[Ohioan]

It sounds like you need a new school board. Back peddling under heat, does not translate into the sort of judgment to which you can trust your children.

Frankly, what you describe, would seem to call for the criminal prosecution of someone.

[Darksheare]

That was threatened.
IIRC.
And they made the curriculum and all it's copies that they passed out to the school disappear.
(It was revived somewhat, however, brushed off and repackaged for college students at SUNY New Paltz. One or two 'conferences' on it and it's not been heard from since.)

[Van Jenerette]

Biological homosexuality is a myth.

[Salman]

Does the 'regular' Chamber of Commerce discriminate against gays? No?

[Archangelsk]

They even had a hand in school curriculum that was going to teach third and fourth graders the "Joys of fisting, S&M, bondage, Gay lesbian and bisexual activites, beastiality," and other deviations.

Unless you can point to a credible web address, like the minutes of the school board where this is discussed (not some stupid blog), I have a very difficult time believing this.

[johniegrad]

"Since GLBT owned businesses do not qualify as minority businesses under NMSDC guidelines, tremendous financial opportunities are forfeited," said NGLCC's co-founder Chance Mitchell.

Help me here. The "gays" want to have the same rights as others, i.e., to marry (even though that would really be special rights to marry a member of the same sex). So in that argument they insist that they don't want "special rights". Now in this argument they insist that they are maltreated because they are not given minority status. WTF??

[anniegetyourgun]

An obvious truth that cannot be restated enough.

[First Amendment]

Maybe the Hindus can figure out what to do with them. They are, after all, much more tolerant of 'sacred cows' than I can even pretend to be.

A couple/three (? my sense of time disappeared a while ago) years ago homosexuals in Australia had some big deviancy festival with a "Fag Hindu" theme and huge doctored pictured if traditional Hindu Gods and Goddesses. offensively portraying them as fellow perverts. It was extremely sick. People in India found out, and there were big protests. I saw a picture of hundreds of sadhus (Shaivites) wearing loincloths, with matted hair and tridents, protesting outside the Australian embassy. Very encouraging.

The vast majority of Hindus (those following tradition) are very conservative in the arena of sexual behavior.

[Darksheare]

Those who live in Orangw County New York remember it well.
Said school board now has a policy of deny deny deny.
Just like the Clintons.
You may have ahrd time believing it, that's your perogative.
But we here do remeber.
And memory takes a long time to die here.

[First Amendment]

correction: huge doctored pictures of traditional etc.

[foreverfree]

bump

[Archangelsk]

Orange County? Home to West Point and Orange County Choppers? Now I have a really, really tough time believing it.

[Hila]

DOWN goes IBM and rightly so.

[BigDaddyTX]

http://www.commercialcloset.org/cgi-bin/iowa/portrayals.html?record=592 This real life gay couple (though it's only vaguely referred to), who are also business
partners, are quoted as saying, "We're not even your ordinary pop & pop operation." The text reads: "Eight years after jettisoning the corporate life for a business of
their own, Mitch Goldstone and Carl Berman are the proud proprietors of 30 Minute Photos Etc. in Irvine, California." It ends by saying, "A perfect relationship in
more ways than one," a double meaning for their relationship as well as for IBM.

http://www.commercialcloset.org/cgi-bin/iowa/portrayals.html?record=754 "Yet Another Thing To Share... A new IBM Thinkpad Notebook"

http://www.commercialcloset.org/cgi-bin/iowa/portrayals.html?record=753 "Yet Another Thing To Share (female)"

[BigDaddyTX]

****And yet they give and give to these folks as described in a brochure...


"Giving back to the community is as important to us as it is to you. In the past decade, IBM has given back in excess of $1 billion to a wide variety of organizations that includes ASTRAEA Lesbian Action Foundation, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (LLDEF), National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)."

[TaxRelief]

I have specifically watched gay recruitment activities in Sunday School classes, in youth programs, the classrooms at Junior High Levels and in School guidance offices. Teenagers who are outcasts for any reason, and this means 30% of them, are vulnerable. They are welcomed with open arms to GSA after being rejected by their peers in other areas.

It may be time to start a high school group called RESKUE (Retain Every Straight Kid Until the End) or SMMRG(straight monogomous marriage-bound rescue group). Or it may be time to demand safe havens in the schools from Gay Promoters. Isn't there some way to twist our constitution to find a right not to be recruited into the GAY way?

We need some slogans for bumper stickers-

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GAY TO BE ACCEPTED"

"BEING GAY IS AS DANGEROUS AS SMOKING CIGARETTES"

"I CHOOSE MARRIAGE"

[traditionalist]

A perfect illustration of how Capitalism is not Conservative.

[traditionalist]

any businessman who chooses to build his business associations around sexual deviancy, must have some loose fasteners in his cerebral makeup.

On the contrary, there is a lot of money to be made on sexual deviancy. This is one of the many reasons why unfettered capitalism leads hedonism.

[PatrioticAmerican]

"IBM = International Butt Muncher"

Ah, the new name for these freaks.

[Huber]

They are "sponsoring" a program, not a particular chamber of commerce. And they are undoubtably "sponsoring" it because they are making money by doing so. IBM is like any other services firm -- you pay them money, they perform services. Gay people's money is as green as straight people's money. Heh heh.

My understanding is that (please forgive the PC speak) IBM's "sponsorship" in this instance refers to the "moral leadership" that IBM is taking in advancing progressive "positive social change" in our society. Other corporations are watching IBM and the public's reaction to this to determine what type of a role their own "diversity" programs should take on this matter.

The key issue here (independent of whether you favor or are opposed to any form of "affirmative action") is that because homosexuality is exhibited as a behavior and not as an inherent characteristic. Individuals can choose whether or not to engage in same sex sodomy, but can't choose the color of their skin or their nation of hereditary origin. The result is that this type of "supplier diversity" program will provide a financial incentive for individuals to engage in (or claim to engage in) homosexual behavior.

Because other corporations will be observing how IBM fares in this endeaver and because these corporations are likely to continue to pander to a persistent and outspoken homosexual activist network, it is time for the old silent majority to cease being so silent on this issue.

Considering how successful the homosexual groups have been against Dr. Laura, Michael Savage and many others. It's time for Freepers to become active in shining a bright light on this initiative before it becomes a trend.

In short, FREEP IBM, let them know how you feel about this, and let them know how this practice will affect your decisions of whether to buy IBM products or invest in IBM stock. Show up at shareholder meetings, write your local newspaper, call your local radio stations and carry signs near retail establishments that sell IBM products.

THIS IS THE TIME TO NIP IT IN THE BUD!

[First Amendment]

A perfect illustration of how Capitalism is not Conservative.

I've saved that one - if you have any more like it freepmail or ping me.

[Mikey]

International Buggery Men

International Butt Manglers

International Boy Maulers

Intercourse By Mayhem

International Bisexual Men

[Cindy]

re post no.27...

here's a site I found interesting quite awhile ago that appeals to all ages I believe.

Straight Pride Wear

[narses]

Ping.

[Darksheare]

Orange County, home of closed to the public school board meetings, home of closed to the public town board meetings.
Yes.
Ever hear about SUNY New Paltz?
They dusted off said curriculum and used it for a seminar for brainwashing your college age kids.
Time Herald Record had some articles on it.
Go to their website and search on that if you like.
It had a huge stink associated with it, and SUNY New Paltz basically told everyone to stuff it, they're going to continue the seminar.
Last I heard about that seminar based off the idiotic curriculum, was four years ago.
Memory dies hard.

[Salman]

OK I'll FReep them on general principles, but I don't think that anybody thinks that IBM exemplifies "moral leadership", including the stinkers who issued the press release.

BTW, I was working at the IBM East Fishkill (New York) plant when they were closing it. 25,000 people laid off. No love for IBM here.

[Ohioan]

On the contrary, there is a lot of money to be made on sexual deviancy. This is one of the many reasons why unfettered capitalism leads hedonism.

The money to be made on promoting sexual deviancy, by a blue chip company like IBM, which depends upon a wide spectrum of public acceptance, is chimerical. There is no way that the benefits can possibly equal the risk of becoming a pariah. Anyone who understands social history, knows that the worm will eventually turn, and what was unacceptable for so long, will again be unacceptable.

Of course, IBM may no longer be attracting management that understands social history. And on that subject, I do not know if you are correct in characterizing them as Capitalists. More and more, major conglomerates are falling under the control of self-perpetuating bureaucracies, sucking up the actual capitalists' capital, to live high on the hog, with less interest in actually increasing the capital of their employers than they have in transferring their employers wealth to themselves. Their ignorance of social values is sometimes even exceeded by their avarice.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[Gabz]

In short, FREEP IBM, let them know how you feel about this, and let them know how this practice will affect your decisions of whether to buy IBM products or invest in IBM stock. Show up at shareholder meetings, write your local newspaper, call your local radio stations and carry signs near retail establishments that sell IBM products.

Do your plans extend to the everyday working employees of IBM? Are you going to add establishments that use IBM equipment?

I agree with FREEPing CORPORATE IBM that made this decision - attacking stores that sell their products is wrong.

I like a roof over my head and my husband has nothing to do with these decisions - he just fixes the things sold by those retail establishments.

[traditionalist]

There is no way that the benefits can possibly equal the risk of becoming a pariah

On the contrary, in our present perverse culture, they stand a greater chance of becoming a pariah by NOT promoting sexual deviancy.

This may one day change, and I pray it does, but that means nothing to IBM. They'll just change along with the culture, and American consumers and investors with their short attention spans will forget IBM was ever different.

[Ohioan]

On the contrary, in our present perverse culture, they stand a greater chance of becoming a pariah by NOT promoting sexual deviancy.

We do not have one culture in America. We have always had a number of distinct cultures--that is why maintaining the Federal nature of the United States is important, even if were not the only moral course for a Federation of sovereign Republics.

But what, I think you are referring to, is not actually the culture of any American State--rather it is the sub-culture of the sophisticates, the poseurs given to fawning over the Emperor's New Clothes. But their ilk--as popular as they are in the media and academia--do not speak, do not speak in the slightest, on any issue for many of us. I suspect that you are very much in that group--one of the many of us, who want no part of the Corporate mindset at IBM, which would see this as a proper Corporate activity.

I know that things often look very bleak for Western Society, today. But if we just press forward, and keep lighting beacons for the propagation of sanity and reason, who knows when the Western tradition may again become the fashion. We have one tremendous advantage, despite all the efforts of those poseurs, to whom I refer. We have truth and reality on our side. Ultimately, that should make the difference. Ultimately, not just one wee lad, but an entire generation may wake up, and realize that the Emperor is stark raving mad as a hatter--as well as naked as a jay bird.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[Huber]

"Carry signs" does not equal "attacking stores". The intent is to educate consumers and shareholders, and to let IBM know that pandering to an antiChristian subculture may alienate a much larger Christian customer base. Perhaps IBM can be pursuaded that supporting special financial incentives to encourage homosexual activity is an unwise business decision.

(PS: Don't the stores carry other lines of computers anyway.)

[Gabz]

First off not everyone in this world is Christian, so I respectfully request you to tone down your religious zeolotry.

Second, as you totally ignored the gist of my position you have lead me to believe you don't give a hoot for anyone or anything other than your own narrow mindset - not a terribly Christian attitude, is it?

When your little plan works and my husband and his colleagues, who as I said have nothing to do with these corporate decisions, are on the unemployment line I am sure you will be more than happy to pay our motgages.

[Huber]

No zealotry ma'm, simply a desire that in a free republic, all individuals be treated equally without favoritism. It seems unlikely that anyone would lose their jobs - either IBM will respond to a counterbalancing conservative activist presence - countering the liberal pro-homosexual special privelages one, or conservative activism will not be sufficiently organized to have an effect. In the first instance, IBM would be likely to emerge stronger and more focused, overcoming its distracting urge to pander to any group. Either way, IBM is not likely to drive its business into the ground, and no conservative activism is likely to drive your husband out of work any time soon. However, if he shares your business acumen, it may be a different story.

May I assume that you are a visitor from DU? Your interpretation of the situation indicates a lack of familiarity with (or a distaste for) conservative economics. Perhaps you've been studying Keynes and JK Galbraith - or do you simply rely on Terry McCauliffe's talking points?

[Huber]

Dear Gabz,

I've just checked your history and see that you've been around for awhile. I hope that you will please accept my retraction of the personal comment, with humble and sincere apologies.

[TaxRelief]

I'm with you, Huber! Let's FREEP IBM!

[TonyRo76]

Biological homosexuality is a myth.

Amen! Thank you. I've been saying this for a long time too.

No-one will ever convice me they were born gay, any more than someone can be born with a PhD.