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Microsoft lobbys it's weight behind a worthy cause: Gay Marriage
If there’s one thing we saw this week with the SOPA/PIPA protests, it’s that companies, if they weigh in effectively enough, can help protect citizens’ rights.
As you’re surely aware, hundreds of websites including Wikipedia and Reddit went dark in protest of SOPA and PIPA Wednesday, and sites like Google pushed users to contact their congresspeople to help block the bills. The result was an outpour of anti-SOPA/PIPA sentiment, and today the bill’s sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) announced they “will postpone consideration of the legislation until there is wider agreement on a solution.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also announced this morning that PIPA’s vote, which was scheduled for Tuesday, has been cancelled.
On an issue unrelated to piracy, though still paramount to Americans’ rights, this week Microsoft joined five other businesses in urging Washington State, where the tech company is based, to legalize gay marriage. According to The Atlantic, in a letter to governor Chris Gregoire, Microsoft wrote, “We write you today to show the support of our respective companies for SB 6239 and HB 2516 recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples.”
They also expounded on the company’s blog:
At Microsoft, we pride ourselves on our products and services, our brand, and our global reach. But unquestionably, our employees are our greatest asset.
…
As other states recognize marriage equality, Washington’s employers are at a disadvantage if we cannot offer a similar, inclusive environment to our talented employees, our top recruits and their families. Employers in the technology sector face an unprecedented national and global competition for top talent. Despite progress made in recent years with domestic partnership rights, same-sex couples in Washington still hold a different status from their neighbors. Marriage equality in Washington would put employers here on an equal footing with employers in the six other states that already recognize the committed relationships of same-sex couples – Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. This in turn will help us continue to compete for talent.
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Allowing gay marriage in Washington State will surely make the state appealing to a wider range of talent, and as Microsoft said on their site, help the company stay competitive. Hopefully with the support of the five other companies, “Vulcan, NIKE, RealNetworks, Group Health Cooperative, and Concur,” Microsoft, like the companies which succeeded in impacting the anti-piracy bills, will be successful in moving lawmakers to support gay marriage.
As you’re surely aware, hundreds of websites including Wikipedia and Reddit went dark in protest of SOPA and PIPA Wednesday, and sites like Google pushed users to contact their congresspeople to help block the bills. The result was an outpour of anti-SOPA/PIPA sentiment, and today the bill’s sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) announced they “will postpone consideration of the legislation until there is wider agreement on a solution.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also announced this morning that PIPA’s vote, which was scheduled for Tuesday, has been cancelled.
On an issue unrelated to piracy, though still paramount to Americans’ rights, this week Microsoft joined five other businesses in urging Washington State, where the tech company is based, to legalize gay marriage. According to The Atlantic, in a letter to governor Chris Gregoire, Microsoft wrote, “We write you today to show the support of our respective companies for SB 6239 and HB 2516 recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples.”
They also expounded on the company’s blog:
At Microsoft, we pride ourselves on our products and services, our brand, and our global reach. But unquestionably, our employees are our greatest asset.
…
As other states recognize marriage equality, Washington’s employers are at a disadvantage if we cannot offer a similar, inclusive environment to our talented employees, our top recruits and their families. Employers in the technology sector face an unprecedented national and global competition for top talent. Despite progress made in recent years with domestic partnership rights, same-sex couples in Washington still hold a different status from their neighbors. Marriage equality in Washington would put employers here on an equal footing with employers in the six other states that already recognize the committed relationships of same-sex couples – Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. This in turn will help us continue to compete for talent.
...
Allowing gay marriage in Washington State will surely make the state appealing to a wider range of talent, and as Microsoft said on their site, help the company stay competitive. Hopefully with the support of the five other companies, “Vulcan, NIKE, RealNetworks, Group Health Cooperative, and Concur,” Microsoft, like the companies which succeeded in impacting the anti-piracy bills, will be successful in moving lawmakers to support gay marriage.
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