Homophobia is losing corporate America

Corporate America is no longer the safe haven for homophobia that it once was. 

Mozilla, the parent company for Firefox (web browser) and Thunderbird (email), both of which I use constantly, hired a new CEO.  Turns out he has been an outspoken critic of gay marriage, and made a big contribution to those pushing Proposition 8 in California.    This created a big backlash.  After dragging its feet for a week, Mozilla decided he didn't fit with the values of the company;  and the brand new CEO resigned.

There are still places, like the Catholic Diocese I wrote about last week with its moral clause that can get teachers fired just for supporting gays.  But mostly what's in the news now makes homophobia, not homosexuality, the skunk in the closet.

The other side is getting a taste of what it feels like to be discriminated against for who you are or what you believe.   And, to be sure, this does bring up the issue of free speech and losing your job over speaking your mind.  Putting the shoe on the other foot sometimes makes you realize a bad fit.

So, if it's bad for the Catholics to fire people for pro-gay speech, isn't it also bad for Mozilla to fire someone for anti-gay speech?   Isn't this just a variation of the old ACLU defending the neo-Nazi group's right to march in a Jewish neighborhood?

As with most of the really important questions, it comes down to a clash between two values -- here the clash between free speech and equal treatment.   Mozilla didn't automatically fire him for supporting Prop8.   It talked with him about the difference in his values and the company's values.  In the end, he would resign, supposedly voluntarily.

Another gay issue involving corporate America is on display in a video commercial from Honey Maid cracker company, and it doesn't bring up any deep moral dilemmas -- just an awesomely wonderful response to homophobic backlash.   Honey Maid aired an ad showing a montage of family groups in loving scenes, the series titled "Wholesome."  One 2 second clip showed two men cuddling their newborn baby.   It got some backlash from anti-gay viewers.  

Honey Maid's response is what's so heart-warming.   They made another ad about love and inclusiveness as wholesome family values.  Take a look.   It's beautiful.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/03/honey-maid-love-commercial_n_5086442.html  

Check it out.    I've been eating graham crackers ever since.   Go, Honey Maid. 

Ralph