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Gay Civil Rights Bill Sparks Protest

A pastor near Seattle, Washington, the home of Microsoft, is threatening a boycott of the software giant along with Hewlett-Packard and other business that support a gay civil rights bill. Rev. Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, says "The companies underestimate the power of religious customers." He plans to officially call for the boycott on Thursday on the nationally broadcast radio show, Focus on the Family.

Microsoft Corp., Boeing Co., Hewlett Packard Co., and Nike Inc. were among several companies who signed a letter last week urging passage of a bill that would add "sexual orientation" to a state law that already bans discrimination in housing, employment and insurance based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, marital status and other factors.

Regarding the threat of a boycott, Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos says, "Our position is well known, as we said in our letter last week, and we stick by it." Rev. Hutcherson says he pressured Microsoft into dropping its support of the legislation last year by threatening a boycott. Gay activists protested the company`s decision to pull its backing of the measure, prompting a turnaround in its official stance.