Microsoft gay workers call for action

Microsoft's gay and lesbian employee group yesterday demanded that the company take steps to support anti-discrimination legislation in Washington state.

A company spokeswoman said the input is welcome but had no comment on whether it will result in any changes.

The company supported the legislation in the past but took a neutral stance this year, upsetting some advocates and employees.

Microsoft's shift in position became widely known on April 21, the day the legislation failed in the state Senate by one vote. Some backers alleged Microsoft bowed to pressure from an evangelical pastor who threatened a boycott, but the company insists that it had decided earlier to focus only on business-related issues in Olympia this year.

On Monday, Chairman Bill Gates told The Seattle Times that the company may reconsider the issue and take into account the feedback the next time it sets its legislative agenda.

GLEAM — an organization of gay and lesbian employees at Microsoft — yesterday called on Chief Executive Steve Ballmer to act sooner. It laid out a series of steps for the company "to achieve the goals that you have outlined in the past."

"Our company values are clearly documented and our internal policies against discrimination are unquestioned," the letter said. "Because of our long-standing support for anti-discrimination legislation, the withdrawal of support from HB1515 was a shock.

"We are deeply concerned about the way the decision was made, the failure to anticipate its impact, and our inability to quickly repair the damage once it had become evident. This shook our trust in executive management, and has left us feeling abandoned, depressed, and embarrassed for Microsoft."

Ballmer was asked to affirm Microsoft's support for the legislation, acknowledge this year's neutral stance was a mistake and reaffirm the company's commitment to diversity. The group also asked him to communicate this position to employees, hold a diversity-awareness event for employees and hold mandatory awareness workshops for management on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.

Ballmer was in Europe yesterday and unavailable for comment.

Company spokeswoman Tami Begasse said employee feedback "is very much part of our culture."

"We've always valued input from our employees and will continue to have an open dialogue on this issue," she said.

The e-mail was sent by employee Willis Johnson who did not return calls seeking comment.

Begasse said executives have received a variety of feedback on the issue.

"We all along have received information, we've had meetings internally and externally," she said. "There are emotions and perspectives on this, all different views. We're a very diverse company."

Brier Dudley: 206-515-5687 or bdudley@seattletimes.com