Another reason to hate Microsoft

[livius drusus]

Originally Posted by Sauron

You seem to have missed this one:

6. Engage in respectful and appropriate marketing to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and/or provide support through their corporate foundation or otherwise to GLBT health, educational, political or community organizations or events.

I haven't, actually. That criterion includes several possible options. Even if we take points from Miscrosoft on the providing corporate funding to GLBT politcal organizations or events criterion because of its withdrawal of support -- which I don't think we can since legislation is not a political organization or event, and support of a bill is not corporate funding -- that still leaves them with a long list of other things they can and do do to fulfill criterion 6.

But lets pretend that that criterion only requires that a company "provide support through their corporate foundation or otherwise to GLBT political organizations or events" and there are no other options offered in criterion 6. It seems to me that as long as Microsoft funded gay rights advocacy organizations, they could withdraw from 100 bills and they'd still be amply fulfilling the requirement.

Finally, even if for the sake of argument I grant that the wording of that criterion is actually relevant to Microsoft's chickening out of supporting the bill, that would still not totally invalidate the rest of the criteria and suddenly make MS an gay unfriendly corporation even though it offers partnership bennies, explicit non-discrimination policies, gay employee resource groups, diversity training, respectful and appropriate marketing, corporate funding to health, educational, community orgs or events, and refrains from donating to Focus on the Family.

IOW, I don't know what possible standard could render a company gay unfriendly simply because of one withdrawal from support of a bill. There are way too many other criteria MS still fulfills.

[Sauron]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

I haven't, actually. That criterion includes several possible options. Even if we take points from Miscrosoft on the providing corporate funding to GLBT politcal organizations or events criterion because of its withdrawal of support -- which I don't think we can since legislation is not a political organization or event, and support of a bill is not corporate funding -- that still leaves them with a long list of other things they can and do do to fulfill criterion 6.

But lets pretend that that criterion only requires that a company "provide support through their corporate foundation or otherwise to GLBT political organizations or events" and there are no other options offered in criterion 6. It seems to me that as long as Microsoft funded gay rights advocacy organizations, they could withdraw from 100 bills and they'd still be amply fulfilling the requirement.

Finally, even if for the sake of argument I grant that the wording of that criterion is actually relevant to Microsoft's chickening out of supporting the bill, that would still not totally invalidate the rest of the criteria and suddenly make MS an gay unfriendly corporation even though it offers partnership bennies, explicit non-discrimination policies, gay employee resource groups, diversity training, respectful and appropriate marketing, corporate funding to health, educational, community orgs or events, and refrains from donating to Focus on the Family.

IOW, I don't know what possible standard could render a company gay unfriendly simply because of one withdrawal from support of a bill. There are way too many other criteria MS still fulfills.

No. The Microsoft reversal is anti-gay, period.

And apparently the Human Rights Campaign -- the authors of the rating system you alluded to earlier -- agrees with me.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005...microsoft.html

HRC blasts Microsoft
by John in DC - 4/22/2005 05:18:00 PM

This is good. Keep in mind that HRC's culture is more august - they're not going to throw flames like I might. But read this closely, it's quite good in my view. And they cc the evil general counsel who was behind the entire anti-gay coup:

Steven A. Ballmer
CEO, Microsoft Corporation
1 Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399

CC: Bradford L. Smith

Dear Mr. Ballmer:

The Human Rights Campaign, along with your many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, would like to express our profound disappointment at Microsoft Corp.’s withdrawal of support for Washington State House Bill 1515 that would have banned discrimination against GLBT Washingtonians in housing, employment and insurance.

The defeat of this bill struck a blow to fairness for all Washingtonians. No Washingtonian or American should ever be fired for who they are. Corporations in Washington, especially Microsoft, must recognize the enormous impact this bill could have had at delivering equal protection to GLBT people.

In media reports, your company spokesperson said that workplace fairness is not directly “related to our business” and that the short legislative schedule precluded the company from supporting the bill. That position belies your own policies and those of countless other companies who believe firmly that workplace protections for all are essential to maintaining a competitive business environment. Successful businesses embrace diversity not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it the right thing to do for their business.

We also find it troubling that public reports allege that Microsoft made this decision not based on a business rationale, but under pressure from conservative religious-political groups. The reported rationale that Microsoft officials were afraid of offending “Christians” is itself deeply offensive to the many Christians who believe in non-discrimination and were proud of Microsoft’s previous position. Further, giving in to threats from a small group fighting to impose their own view of religion on the company and the state will only encourage more such threats. We urge you to work to change this perception.

While Microsoft’s internal policies regarding GLBT diversity have been trend setting, its reversal sends a signal, intended or not, that it is no longer supportive of its GLBT employees, customers and shareholders. It implies a lack of support for its own employees as they seek housing and insurance coverage and creates the impression that Microsoft does not support equal treatment at businesses elsewhere in Washington. In fact, the strong stance of Microsoft on behalf of the GLBT community and our partnership with the organization in the past makes this feel like even more of a betrayal.

In addition, Microsoft’s position is the exception to many other leading companies that support the bill and the timing of the withdrawal of your support has created the perception that Microsoft was partly responsible for the bill’s demise.

Microsoft should reinstate its support for this bill when it returns to the Legislature. It’s simply the right thing to do for Microsoft’s employees and its business. Further, we call on Microsoft to unambiguously state its support for non-discrimination legislation at the state and federal levels. This lack of clarity may have already had a devastating effect and it’s past time to clear the air.

We appreciate our 10-year relationship with Microsoft. We are hopeful the issues raised in this letter can be resolved and we look forward to working with you to that end.

Sincerely,

Joe Solmonese
HRC President

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

[livius drusus]

Originally Posted by Sauron

No. The Microsoft reversal is anti-gay, period.

The reversal is. The company is not.

Originally Posted by Sauron

And apparently the Human Rights Campaign -- the authors of the rating system you alluded to earlier -- agrees with me.

I don't see anything in that press release which calls MS anti-gay. Quite the opposite, in fact.

I'll tell you what. I'll email HRC and ask them if this reversal makes Microsoft anti-gay according to their standards or whether it's just the reversal itself which is a sole anti-gay choice.

[Sauron]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

The reversal is. The company is not.

The HRC disagrees, as do I.

Originally Posted by Sauron

And apparently the Human Rights Campaign -- the authors of the rating system you alluded to earlier -- agrees with me.

I don't see anything in that press release which calls MS anti-gay. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Look again:

While Microsoft’s internal policies regarding GLBT diversity have been trend setting, its reversal sends a signal, intended or not, that it is no longer supportive of its GLBT employees, customers and shareholders. It implies a lack of support for its own employees as they seek housing and insurance coverage and creates the impression that Microsoft does not support equal treatment at businesses elsewhere in Washington. In fact, the strong stance of Microsoft on behalf of the GLBT community and our partnership with the organization in the past makes this feel like even more of a betrayal.

I'll tell you what. I'll email HRC and ask them if this reversal makes Microsoft anti-gay according to their standards or whether it's just the reversal itself which is a sole anti-gay choice.

Please do.

In the meantime, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center asks Microsoft to return the award for corporate leadership in being a gay-friendly company:

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005...d-lesbian.html

"Founded in 1971, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center is the largest gay and lesbian organization in the world. With an annual budget of $35 million, the Gay & Lesbian Center offers the widest array of services to gay men and lesbians available anywhere in the world."

Now here's the Center's press release:

In response to Microsoft's withdrawal of support for legislation that would have outlawed discrimination against gay and lesbian people in Washington, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, which presented Microsoft with its Corporate Vision Award in 2001, is asking the company to return the award.

"We honor companies that, among other things, set a high standard for others by exhibiting leadership in advancing the cause of lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual equality," said L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Chief of Staff Darrel Cummings. "Because of Microsoft's apparent capitulation to the demands of anti-gay extremists and withdrawal of support for a bill that would do nothing more than protect gay and lesbian people from discrimination, we believe it's no longer worthy of our highest corporate honor."

At the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's 30th Anniversary Gala in 2001, Microsoft was honored because the company had been a leader in opposing anti-gay initiatives, was one of the first companies to offer domestic partnership benefits and include sexual orientation in its corporate non-discrimination policy, and has supported AIDS and GLBT organizations across the country. Center leaders are concerned about the company's apparent shift in its support of civil rights legislation for the GLBT community. Phone calls from the Center to Microsoft have not been returned.

"One of the most basic civil rights is protection from discrimination," said Cummings. "By withdrawing support for legislation that would protect the GLBT community from discrimination -- especially in its home state -- we're very concerned about the direction Microsoft is headed. It sends a dangerous message to the rest of corporate America, and to society in general, and may be cause for our community to evaluate its support of Microsoft."

[viscousmemories]

Originally Posted by Sauron

The HRC disagrees, as do I.

<snip>

While Microsoft’s internal policies regarding GLBT diversity have been trend setting, its reversal sends a signal, intended or not, that it is no longer supportive of its GLBT employees, customers and shareholders. It implies a lack of support for its own employees as they seek housing and insurance coverage and creates the impression that Microsoft does not support equal treatment at businesses elsewhere in Washington.

Sauron, I don't think you can say the HRC agrees with you. Your quoted text doesn't say that Microsoft is now an anti-gay company, big red words or not. It says that Microsoft's reversal on this bill sends a signal and implies that the company is no longer supportive of gays. In other words, whether they are in fact pro-gay or anti-gay, this reversal creates the appearance that they have ceased being pro-gay.

I'm sure a lot of people are really upset, but I really sincerely doubt the HRC or the rest of the gay and lesbian community are ready to write off everything Microsoft has done for the past 20 years as irrelevant because of one fuck-up, even one as apparently serious as this one. Even the LA Gay and Lesbian center demanding their award back doesn't seem like a sign that they're ready to call MS an anti-gay company, as evidenced by their saying "...may be cause for our community to evaluate its support of Microsoft."

And I'm scaring myself a little even sounding like I'm defending Microsoft because it's never happened to me before. But from everything I've read in the last 24 hours it seems that with this glaring exception, MS has actually been very progressive on gay and lesbian issues both internally and in thier political activity. So while I agree again that this is an important issue with potentially very negative ramifications, I disagree that it is evidence that MS is now an "anti-gay" company.

[Sauron]

Well, we obviously disagree. And we probably won't agree on it, ever.

You've eloquently stated your position, however, and I thank you for being nice about it and not flying off the handle.

[viscousmemories]

Originally Posted by Sauron

Well, we obviously disagree. And we probably won't agree on it, ever.

You've eloquently stated your position, however, and I thank you for being nice about it and not flying off the handle.

Fair enough. Don't thank me for being nice though, it's just my nature.