The Price of Bigotry
If Proposition 2 passes, opponents say it would make Texas less competitive in hiring and recruiting.
Mary Mason, chairwoman of Missing Lynx Systems Inc., says the San Ramon, Calif.-based software company aborted its plans to move to Ohio after that state passed an amendment banning gay marriage.
It was the last straw for about half the company’s 20 employees, who already were wavering on moving for other reasons, including cold weather.
Mason says Missing Lynx still plans to expand in a new city, and Austin is one of the contenders. But Mason says a marriage amendment would discourage the company from looking more closely at Texas.
Tech businesses “are all being courted by Galveston and Austin, who are looking to bring in high tech development,” Mason says. “They are talking nice, but I can’t get the people I need to move there.”
“Part of what I’ve found is that people who can think creatively and can do this kind of work need a tolerant environment. Texas will wind up looking un-American, intolerant and very foolish.” (source)
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I totally agree Fritz. I'm the same way.
I wish more people would really consider where they are putting their money. Too many of us just blindly spend money on "stuff" we need, without ever thinking that we could very likely be supporting companies who have no use what so ever for people like us. They support that claim by not hiring people they suspect might be gay, or outright fire them for being gay. In 38 states in this country, it is still perfectly legal to still do that.
Where you spend your money probably has more weight than how you vote. Money talks.
I watch everything. As I've mentioned before, the Kansas mortgage firm lost my business just for being in a state that supports bigotry (they passed a state amendment outlawing gay marriage). I responded by not giving them my business AND telling them EXACTLY WHY they lost my business.
They of course felt powerless. But don't be naive. Companies don't take losses lightly. You can bet that if that happens enough, they will either decide to move to a more tolerant state, or they will contact their legislators and see if something more reasonable can be accomplished.
It's getting harder and harder for a bigot and bigoted attitudes to find a place to hide.
As part of my job, I make some pretty big technology purchases. And I certainly consider the locations of the companies I use.
If a vendor is headquartered in Texas, I don't even consider it. The same goes for Kansas, and a few other anti-gay states.
There is a particular Texas-based company that won't be getting a $1 million contract from me next year. So, I have to say that bigotry is costing Texas money. There are plenty of companies in gay-friendly states that I can use.