Microsoft Withdraws Gay Rights Support

[Adrenaline]

Fair or not it appears as if Microsoft may be rethinking their move to neutrality in response to the uproar it caused.

Microsoft may rethink position on gay rights bill

 

[Etoile]

From that article:

"It's perfectly fair for us to be scrutinized on anything," [Gates] said. "We didn't realize that one would get that level of scrutiny, but there's people who care a lot. They care a lot about the issue."

Now that's just funny. He didn't realize people would care? What rock has he been living under?

Related article on the cover of NYC's Gay City News paper: Microsoft Showdown on Gay Rights

 

[mercy's_grace]

From that article:

Now that's just funny. He didn't realize people would care? What rock has he been living under?

Related article on the cover of NYC's Gay City News paper: Microsoft Showdown on Gay Rights

I used to think he was pretty smart. That is just goofy.

 

[Queersetti]

Yes, exactly. The overwhelming negative response about this from the gay community is upsetting. Microsoft went from a supportive position to a neutral position, not a negative one. This is common and acceptable business practice - it's called not pissing off half your customer base. Apparently the gay community has forgotten that Microsoft's gay-positive policies are among the oldest in the corporate world. They've had a very high score on HRC's Corporate Equality Index for a long time. If I remember correctly, they have an entire sales division targeting queer consumers. Reversing a decision that was bad for busines does not negate all the good things they have done. Not by a long shot. And it's too bad the gay community is so willing to forget those good things.

So, if a company that has a gay friendly record begins to backtrack on gay issues in order to appease homophobes, should we just keep quiet?

Any way you phrase it, Microsoft withdrew it's support for gay rights legislation in its home state. Why shouldn't we hold their feet to the fire for it?

 

[Etoile]

So, if a company that has a gay friendly record begins to backtrack on gay issues in order to appease homophobes, should we just keep quiet?

Any way you phrase it, Microsoft withdrew it's support for gay rights legislation in its home state. Why shouldn't we hold their feet to the fire for it?

I'm not saying we should keep quiet, but most people don't even KNOW that Microsoft has a gay-friendly record. They're demonizing them without knowing the history. Microsoft did something wrong and should be held accountable, but they are not the villain most people seem to think they are.

 

[Queersetti]

I'm not saying we should keep quiet, but most people don't even KNOW that Microsoft has a gay-friendly record. They're demonizing them without knowing the history. Microsoft did something wrong and should be held accountable, but they are not the villain most people seem to think they are.

Fair enough. (Although my own view is that they are a villainous company in any number of other ways).

It looks like, perhaps, this issue will have a happy ending, as the attention may cause them to reaffirm their support of the GLBT community.

 

[John Doe]

And consumers who disagree with their policies are free to refrain from patronizing them, and to encourage others to do likewise.

Of course, and boycotts are a fine American tradition which I do not oppose in general, but they are rarely effective in actually affecting change from the targetted company.

I tend to agree with you however that Microsoft is a "villain company in any number of...ways", which is why I don't feel too badly about using thier software without paying for it.

But don't tell anyone. *shifty eyes*

 

[Adrenaline]

From that article:

Now that's just funny. He didn't realize people would care? What rock has he been living under?

Related article on the cover of NYC's Gay City News paper: Microsoft Showdown on Gay Rights

Yes considering the prominence the issue has been having for a while I'm not sure how he thought such a move would slip under the radar.

And the drama continues! Ken Hutcherson claims to be the person who forced Microsoft

'Asked if he thought that he alone could have changed the giant corporation's mind, Hutcherson said in an interview Friday: "I don't think. I know."

He continued: "If I got God on my side, what's a Microsoft? What's a Microsoft? It's nothing."'

 

[mercy's_grace]

Of course, and boycotts are a fine American tradition which I do not oppose in general, but they are rarely effective in actually affecting change from the targetted company.

I tend to agree with you however that Microsoft is a "villain company in any number of...ways", which is why I don't feel too badly about using thier software without paying for it.

But don't tell anyone. *shifty eyes*

Do you have an example in mind?

 

[John Doe]

Do you have an example in mind?

Well, I didn't pay for Freelancer, Or Halo. I don't recall if I have any other games from Microsoft. Why do you ask?

(And apparently they don't moniter this board or I would've disappeared days ago, doubtless dragged away by mysterious men in horn-rimmed glasses and pocket protectors)

 

[Natalie Nessus]

I'm not saying we should keep quiet, but most people don't even KNOW that Microsoft has a gay-friendly record. They're demonizing them without knowing the history. Microsoft did something wrong and should be held accountable, but they are not the villain most people seem to think they are.

There are companies that are worse it is the tiny ones that are sometimes so terrible to people

 

[Raimondin]

There are companies that are worse it is the tiny ones that are sometimes so terrible to people

So true. Though I really don't think Microsoft would compromise it's record, reputation and it's contribution to the world. Maybe it's time for Microsoft to go back to the board room and rethink such PR strategies and the repercussions they can have on the company, it's employees and ultimately on the rest of the world. Microsoft ain't exactly a "mom & pop" outfit. No one thing in this world is perfect as there's always room for improvement, including Microsoft.

 

[rip_1_4_u]

Microsoft "renews" support of "gay rights"

Fair enough. (Although my own view is that they are a villainous company in any number of other ways).

It looks like, perhaps, this issue will have a happy ending, as the attention may cause them to reaffirm their support of the GLBT community.

Just got this from HRC 5/6/05:

"Microsoft has decided to renew its public support for both federal and Washington State legislation prohibiting workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender _expression."​

And here's what Microsoft's CEO has to say about their "renewal":

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer commented in an email to Microsoft employees "...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. Since our beginning nearly 30 years ago, Microsoft has had a strong business interest in recruiting and retaining the best and brightest and most diverse workforce possible. I’m proud of Microsoft’s commitment to non-discrimination in our internal policies and benefits, but our policies can’t cover the range of housing, education, financial and similar services that our people and their partners and families need. Therefore, it’s appropriate for the company to support legislation that will promote and protect diversity in the workplace."​

Hmmm, glad folks were giving Microsoft a hard time...looks like they didn't like lookin like intolerant assholes..