Associated Press

Seattle, May 7:

After being criticised for dropping support for a state gay rights bill, Microsoft Corp chief executive Steve Ballmer told employees that management would publicly such legislation in the future.

Ballmer’s e-mail came two weeks after activists accused the company of caving to pressure from an evangelical pastor who had threatened to launch a countrywide boycott of the software company.

“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.

Company spokeswoman Tami Begasse confirmed that the e-mail, first seen on an employee blog, was written by Ballmer.

Ballmer said he would not discuss what prompted Microsoft to take a neutral stance this year on a bill it had actively supported in the past.

Ballmer had earlier claimed that its decision preceded a meeting with the Rev Ken Hutcherson, pastor of a local church who has organised anti-gay-marriage rallies in Seattle and Washington, DC.

Hutcherson said he pressured Microsoft after hearing two employees testify in favour of a bill in the Washington state legislature that would have banned discrimination against gays in housing, employment and insurance.

The bill died by a single vote in the state Senate in late April.

Bloggers called the company a corporate coward, and a prominent gay rights group asked for repossession of a civil rights award it bestowed on Microsoft four years ago.

In his e-mail to the staff yesterday, Ballmer said the company would continue to focus its lobbying efforts on issues that most directly affect Microsoft, such as Internet safety, intellectual property rights, free trade and a healthy business climate.

“I’m proud of Microsoft’s commitment to non-discrimination in our internal policies and benefits, but our policies can’t cover the range of housing, education, financial and similar services that our people and their partners and families need.”

“Therefore, it’s appropriate for the company to support legislation that will promote and protect diversity in the workplace.”