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Microsoft Abandons Gay Rights Bill

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the a-little-off-the-beaten-track dept.

andrewagill writes "Microsoft has withdrawn support from a bill that would "protect gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing, banking, insurance, and other matters by adding sexual orientation to a state law which already bars discrimination" of the other usual suspects. Odd, given their previous accolades from the GLBT community, and their prior public support for the bill."

4 of 2,304 comments (clear)

  1. People can be right arseholes about this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    People can be right assholes about this. Having been told to my face by my manager "look, we'd really love to keep you on but I'm afraid there's no legal protection to you if we fire you over your homosexuality, so we're forced to let you go. Please don't hesitate to contact me if there's ANYTHING we can do for you."

    And you thought Microsoft were the kings of doublespeak & twisted convoluted logic.

    Unfortunately, legal protections can only go so far. If someone wants to fire an employee because they don't like the employee's partner, then they'll find a reason quickly enough.

  2. Amazing. by RatBastard · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The truley amazing thing about this is that MS is scared of someone. Just think about that for a second. The biggest software company in the world, with a monopoly on the desktop and office suite markets scared of someone. Anyone.

    It makes one wonder if there is something rotten in Redmond.

    --
    Boobies never hurt anyone. - Sherry Glaser.
  3. Re:Could it be that business interests... by theodicey · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Actually, aside from the basic human rights issue of anti-discrimination, being gay-friendly is in microsoft's business interests.

    Gay customers buy a lot of computers, and they tend to be cultural trend-setters or bellweathers, i.e. the people who Microsoft is trying to attract from Apple.

    Also, large companies have a real interest in ensuring that their homebase becomes a culturally vibrant area which attracts professionals and creative types. Gay-friendly laws encourage cultural vibrancy and improve the hiring pool, since people won't live in cities with a reputation for intolerance. Just look at Procter & Gamble's opposition to the Ohio anti-gay constitutional amendment.

    (Although, being based in Cleveland, P&G had a little more incentive than MS...)

  4. Re:Gay bashing has been legitizimized in Bush's US by middlemen · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Atleast people are allowed to be gay in USA. In India a court in New Delhi declared being gay a crime punishable by law.