In reversal, Microsoft backs gay rights bill - Yahoo! News
Good.

After two weeks of gay community outrage, public relations headaches and employee rancor, Microsoft has reinstated its support for a Washington state gay rights bill that it quietly bailed on last month.

Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer announced the company's renewed backing of the legislation in an e-mail to all U.S. employees on Friday.

"After looking at the question from all sides, 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," Ballmer wrote.

"Microsoft will continue to join other leading companies in supporting federal legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, adding sexual orientation to the existing law that already covers race, sex, national origin, religion, age and disability," he wrote. "Obviously, the Washington state legislative session has concluded for this year, but if legislation similar to HB 1515 is introduced in future sessions, we will support it."

The announcement came two weeks after it was revealed that Microsoft had taken a neutral stance on gay rights legislation. Bill 1515, which would have banned discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, employment and insurance, died by a single vote in the state Senate last month.

Before reversing its position Friday, Microsoft brass tried to downplay its meetings with the Rev. Ken Hutcherson, pastor of a Redmond, Wash., church, who reportedly threatened a national boycott because of the company's support of the bill. The oft-repeated company line -- that Hutcherson had no influence, and that the company's neutral stance on the bill reflected its focus on fewer legislative priorities -- did not appease the LGBT community or employees.

Wonder if the Radical Right still intends to boycott. Would sure love to see them try.