Steve Ballmer’s Memo on Gay Rights Bill

Well, the inevitable has happened, Steve Ballmer’s internal memo over the Washington State anti-discrimination bill has been posted to the Internet.

And, while I have some sympathy with what Ballmer is trying to say, another part of me basically says: either you don’t get it, or you are just spouting political bullshit.

Let’s look at some extracts from the memo:

"As long as I am CEO, Microsoft is going to be a company that is hard-core about diversity, a company that is absolutely rigorous about having a non-discriminatory environment, and a company that treats every employee fairly.

I’m proud of our track record on diversity issues. We were one of the first companies to provide domestic partner benefits, or to include sexual orientation in our anti-discrimination policies. And just this year, we became one of the few companies to include gender identity or expression in our protection policies."

This is good stuff. Microsoft does have a right to feel proud of what they have done in this field, and I have no problems in acknowledging that fact.

"When our government affairs team put together its list of its legislative priorities in Olympia before the Legislative Session began in January, we decided to focus on a limited number of issues that are more directly related to our business such as computer privacy, education, and competitiveness. The anti-discrimination bill was not on this list and as a result Microsoft was not actively supporting the bill in the Legislature this year, although last year we did provide a letter of support for similar legislation."

Yes, Mr. Ballmer, but as I’ve said elsewhere, did no-one realise that the change of stance on such a sensitive issue would not go unnoticed? This is such a jaw-dropping change, that if you and your people did not realise the effect, then all I can say is that someone was asleep at the wheel. He goes on:

"On this particular matter, both Bill and I actually both personally support this legislation that would outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. But that is my personal view, and I also know that many employees and shareholders would not agree with me."

It is very good to hear that Ballmer and Gates would outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Three cheers for that. But then, of course, comes the depressing kicker: many employees and shareholders would not agree with me. While on the one hand I recognise that people hold deeply held beliefs, when push comes to shove, some of those beliefs are responsible for much of the evil in this world. And it is the mark of a man, or woman, that they are prepared to stand up and say that.

He goes on to say:

"It’s appropriate to invoke the company’s name on issues of public policy that directly affect our business and our shareholders, but it’s much less clear when it’s appropriate to invoke the company’s name on broader issues that go far beyond the software industry – and on which our employees and shareholders hold widely divergent opinions. We are a public corporation with a duty first and foremost to a broad group of shareholders. On some issues, it is more
appropriate for employees or shareholders to get involved as individual citizens. As CEO, I feel a real sense of responsibility around this question, and I believe there are important distinctions between my personal views on policy issues and when it’s appropriate to involve the company."

I can appreciate what Ballmer is saying here. But, alas, from my perspective, he has been weighed and found wanting. Perhaps I have high ideals. Perhaps I want a Mandela, when all I get is a Ballmer. Pity that, what the world needs is more Mandelas – or at least people who aspire to be such.