Bane Macleod

Microsoft / Gay Rights

Let me start this off by saying, I'm not sure if this is true or not. This is not the sort of thing that I normally write about but I find it to be quite disappointing if it is the case. There is a blog about Microsoft abandoning support for gay rights, and it mentions Microsoft, who has been a company firmly behind human rights legislation for as long as I can remember, changing their stance to neutral on Washington State House Bill 1515. The bill is to change the states law against discrimination to include creed and sexual orientation.

This seems a simple thing, and a very important one, and why Microsoft would change it's stance on the issue days before the law is voted on (tomorrow) is a curious thing. To find out that it happened shortly after Ken Hutcherson of the Antioch Bible Church paid Microsoft a visit and threatened a nationwide boycott of Microsoft products unless it changed its stance on the bill was disquieting to say the least.

I'm really unqualified to talk about the issue however, beint neither gay nor an expert in any way on Washington State or its statutes, so I would encourage you to read the article, make your own decision on the subject and do as your conscience would have you. Either writing Microsoft & Senate, or ignoring it as you choose. I believe I will be writing them tonight. If nothing else I am hoping that such things don't happen in the future. Microsoft's open support of social issues has always been a fantastic thing in my eyes, I would hate to see it change now.