The current issue of Seattle's favorite free weekly newspaper has an article entitled Microsoft Caves on Gay Rights which describes recent happenings in local politics about how Microsoft apparent withdrawal of support for a state bill that would prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians may have been key in preventing the law from passing.

I've tried to write down my feelings about the issue several times over the past few days but words have escaped me. In the meantime you should read some posts from others at Microsoft who've done a better job a capturing their disappointment with our employer than I seem able.

1. Robert Scoble: Steve Ballmer's memo posted, my reply
2. Cyrus Najmabadi: Gay Rights (part 2)
3. Adam Barr: Microsoft and the Anti-Discrimination Bill

I also strongly disagree with Vic Gundotra's post in his response Responding to Scoble. Corporations should not be amoral entities that only exist to generate money. They employee members of a community, they exist as part of community and their actions affect both local and global communities. Sometimes the greatest sins are acts of omission instead of commission.

I hope this feeling of disappointment will soon pass.