WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE?
Magpie is a former journalist, attempted historian [No, you can't ask how her thesis is going], and full-time corvid of the lesbian persuasion. She keeps herself in birdseed by writing those bad computer manuals that you toss out without bothering to read them. She also blogs too much when she's not on deadline, both here and at Pacific Views.
Magpie roosts in Portland, Oregon, where she annoys her housemates (as well as her cats Medea, Whiskers, and Jane Doe) by attempting to play Irish music on the fiddle and concertina.
Ballmer's statement came after a Seattle newspaper revealed that pressure from Christian fundamentalists had caused Microsoft backed off from supporting an anti-discrimination bill in the Washington legislature. That bill failed by one vote late last month.
"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.
We're happy that Microsoft has re-affirmed its past support for lesbian and gay rights, but we have to wonder whether that position will change again the next time the company comes under right-wing pressure.
