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posted by takyon on Monday June 29 2015, @09:30AM   Printer-friendly
from the corporatizing-the-gay-bouquet dept.

San Francisco -- and the tech industry -- are beaming with Pride this weekend.

The United States Supreme Court on Friday ruled same-sex marriage a constitutional right, one day before San Francisco begins its famous Pride festivities, one of the largest celebrations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender -- aka LGBT -- culture in the country. The tech industry is practically euphoric, especially after high-profile executives this year, from Apple CEO Tim Cook to Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff, publicly advocated advancing gay rights. But that advancement works both ways, said Gary Virginia, board president of SF Pride, which organizes the celebration. Speaking out is not just a personal decision for tech execs; it makes good business sense too, he said.

"They attract a younger population for their workforce, and it's been proven that social attitudes are changing," said Virginia. "So it behooves them to have progressive policies to attract LGBT employees. I think they see the benefit of it."

The celebration caps off a landmark year for the gay rights movement. In September, Apple's Cook wrote an essay saying he's gay, making him the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company. A month later, he allowed for his name to be attached to an LGBT anti-discrimination bill in his home state of Alabama. In March, Benioff said he had cancelled all Salesforce events in Indiana after its governor signed a law that would allow businesses to refuse service to anyone in the LGBT community on religious grounds. Less than a week later, dozens of executives from Airbnb, Ebay, Jawbone, Lyft, PayPal, Twitter and other companies signed a joint statement in The Washington Post against the religious freedom laws either passed or being considered in several states.

The tech industry is a relatively recent ally. LGBT leaders point out it's taken decades to achieve Friday's Supreme Court decision. New York City, for example, is commemorating the anniversary of the 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn, which many consider the jump start of the movement. The 1978 assassination of Harvey Milk, an openly gay San Francisco board supervisor, galvanized the national LGBT community.


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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by FatPhil on Monday June 29 2015, @11:24AM

    by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Monday June 29 2015, @11:24AM (#202735) Homepage
    Indeed. As intelligent[citation needed] mammals we are able to organise ourselves, and voluntarily limit what we consider acceptible behaviour. That which we do not limit are our "rights". However, we're not one people, and different self-organising groups (countries/unions) are able to chose their own limitations. Some chose better than others. Those who involve the concept of what other people do with their own genitalia in their choice process probably aren't making the right choices.
    --
    Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
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  • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 29 2015, @12:42PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 29 2015, @12:42PM (#202757)

    Indeed. As intelligent[citation needed] mammals

    Really, "[citation needed]"...? Do also say "hashtag me" whenever you refer to yourself in the third person?

  • (Score: 2) by curunir_wolf on Monday June 29 2015, @05:04PM

    by curunir_wolf (4772) on Monday June 29 2015, @05:04PM (#202892)

    Those who involve the concept of what other people do with their own genitalia in their choice process probably aren't making the right choices.

    Are you sure about that? It seems to be one of the oldest inclusions of "organizing" that human mammals have, back to the very oldest written language. And, it always and everywhere has a significant impact on all of society. Circumcision, arranged marriages, and gender norms have been enforced in civilizations nearly back to the dawn of man. Most are still in place, and others have been added, such as one-child-per-couple, education programs about contraception and prevention of STD's, and on and on. It's pretty pervasive.

    --
    I am a crackpot
    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 29 2015, @06:15PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 29 2015, @06:15PM (#202929)

      Are you sure about that? It seems to be one of the oldest inclusions of "organizing" that human mammals have, back to the very oldest written language.

      Ah, an appeal to tradition. Slavery is pretty old as well. But so what?

      And, it always and everywhere has a significant impact on all of society.

      What? No, it doesn't.

      Circumcision, arranged marriages, and gender norms have been enforced in civilizations nearly back to the dawn of man.

      Again, so what? Who cares how old something is?

    • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 30 2015, @12:25AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 30 2015, @12:25AM (#203098)

      Yes, there is many a society that has a giant stick up its butt about one fetish or another.

      ...then, to get back onto the LGBT topic, there is the culture of the indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere who saw those folks [google.com] as a resource to be utilized. [wikipedia.org]

      You didn't really think that all that feathered stuff they wore ceremonially was dreamed up by someone straight did you?

      -- gewg_

    • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Tuesday June 30 2015, @09:00AM

      by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Tuesday June 30 2015, @09:00AM (#203248) Homepage
      Am I sure about that? Yes I am. And apparently you are too. All those things you list are examples of *not* making the right choices. You're just reiterating my point.
      --
      Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves