Anti-gay pastor and Antioch Bible Church leader Rev. Ken Hutcherson is advancing his battle against corporate giant Microsoft's supposed support of the "homosexual agenda" today, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
"There are 256 Fortune 500 companies alone pouring millions upon millions of dollars into pushing the homosexual agenda," Hutcherson explains to the Telegraph. In what he calls a "David vs. Goliath" battle and part of a larger culture war, the Reverend is instructing his followers to buy and donate shares of Microsoft stock to his church, located near its corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
Via PageOneQ.
Microsoft, one of the first companies to offer benefits to same-sex partners of its employees, had been under heavy fire from Rev. Hutcherson over its 2005 support of a state bill that would have outlawed job discrimination based on sexual orientation, accusing the company of trying to foist its internal policy, in contradiction with his religious beliefs, on the state at large. Microsoft then took additional hits from its employees and the public when it appeared to withdraw support for House Bill 1515.
Hutcherson has in the past said that it's his job as a pastor, not Microsoft's, to influence public policy.
"I am probably one of the worst nightmares this corporation can have," Hutcherson told board members at Microsoft's annual shareholder meeting in November of last year, citing his "righteous cause." Video of his entire speech is below, courtesy of Good As You:
Excerpts from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer article:
Hutcherson, joined by some of the country's most influential Christian leaders, has created a new organization, AGN Financial Network, to finance the effort. The worldwide venture asks people to buy three shares of company stock and donate one to AGN. Its Web site tells visitors, "You have the power to change the world," and contains tips on how to open a brokerage account. Among the listed supporters are Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention and religious pundit Gary Bauer.
It's unclear what effect, if any, the initiative could have on the stock price. It would be difficult to influence company direction -- just to gain a 1 percent stake in Microsoft, about 31 million people would each have to spend $104 to buy three shares. Microsoft has about 9.36 billion outstanding shares, and its largest holder is Chairman Bill Gates, with 858 million shares, or 9 percent of the total. Capital Research and Management Co. follows with nearly 557 million shares, or 6 percent.
He told company leaders, "I could work with you, or I could be your worst nightmare, because I am a black man with a righteous cause, with a host of powerful white people behind me," according to an e-mail update to his supporters. "I hope to hear from you and if not, you will hear from me."
In 2005, Microsoft supported, then withdrew its support, and then supported again a state bill that would have barred sexual-orientation-based workplace discrimination. Though the bill ultimately failed, Microsoft was criticized by gay groups, The Stranger weekly newspaper and Microsoft employees for bowing to pressure from Hutcherson. When Microsoft changed back to its traditional gay-friendly stance, the company was criticized by the Christian right for overstepping its corporate boundaries.