Pipe 2XC Mozilla foundation's new CEO causes concern due to anti-gay-marriage views

Mozilla foundation's new CEO causes concern due to anti-gay-marriage views

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in internet on (#2XC)
The guy co-founded Mozilla and served as Netscape's chief architect . He invented Javascript . He's been Mozilla's chief technical officer for 9 years. On March 24th, Brendan Eich became the Mozilla Foundation's CEO - and members of Mozilla's staff promptly demanded that he step down .

Why? Because Brendan Eich is anti-gay-marriage.

The BBC and others are reporting that online dating site OK Cupid is notifying users of Firefox of the views of the Mozilla Foundation's new CEO - and requesting that they use another browser to access the site. It's not quite a boycott - users can still click through to access the site while using Firefox - but it's definitely a statement.

If you're feeling a sense of deja vu, it's because this sort of thing has happened before - well-respected people occasionally have views that are far from kind or respectable. Still, there's a difference between bigoted sci-fi writers, racist old grandpas, and the leader of a major corporation in the tech sector. At what point do a person's political, personal, or religious views outweigh their qualifications for leadership - and does using Firefox in any way imply support of these views?

History

2014-04-01 18:34
Mozilla foundation's new CEO causes concern due to anti-gay-marriage views
zafiro17@pipedot.org
The guy co-founded Mozilla and served as Netscape's chief architect . He invented Javascript . He's been Mozilla's chief technical officer for 9 years. On March 24th, Brendan Eich became the Mozilla Foundation's CEO - and members of Mozilla's staff promptly demanded that he step down .

Why? Because Brendan Eich is anti-gay-marriage.

The BBC , CFO World , and others are reporting that online dating site OK Cupid is notifying users of Firefox of the views of the Mozilla Foundation's new CEO - and requesting that they use another browser to access the site. It's not quite a boycott - users can still click through to access the site while using Firefox - but it's definitely a statement.

If
you're feeling a sense of deja vu, it's because This isn't the first time this sortkind of thing has happened. bef="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/laura-chapin/2013/12/06/why-the-hobby-lobby-supreme-court-case-is-so-dangerous">Hobby Lobby , Chick-Fil-A , and Costco have all experienced similar backlashes.

Mark Surman, XO of Mozilla, says:
"I worry that we do a bad job of explaining oursel-rvespected, that people occasire angry and don't know who we allre or where we stand. And, I worry have views that are far from kind or respectable. Still, there's a difference between bigoted sci-fi writers, racist old grandpas, and the leader of a major corporation in the time it takes to work this through and explain ourselves the things I love about Mozilla will be deeply damaged."tech secto>r. />At what point do a person's political, personal, or religious views outweigh their qualifications for leadership - and does using Firefox in any way imply support of these views?
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Another article (Score: 1)

by kerrany@pipedot.org on 2014-04-01 14:45 (#XG)

Posting to add another article which chronicles the whole thing pretty effectively and readably. (What? Read the article? That's unpossible!) A choice quote:

"I worry that Mozilla is in a tough spot right now," (Mark Surman, XO of Mozilla) confided. "I worry that we do a bad job of explaining ourselves, that people are angry and don't know who we are or where we stand. And, I worry that in the time it takes to work this through and explain ourselves the things I love about Mozilla will be deeply damaged."

Clearly they are trying to address this. My question still stands, however: at what point do the CEO's views become representative of the company's? In any normal company, the answer would be either "often" or "always" - see Hobby Lobby , Chick-Fil-A , and Costco for examples of CEOs whose political, religious, and personal views affect their employees (and, arguably, their customers). Mr. Eich has stated, however, that his personal views do not apply to how he will captain Mozilla.

In the interest of disclosure: I'm torn because I'm a Firefox user - I consider it the best, most customizable browser ever - but I am also adamantly pro-gay-rights. I very much hope they fix this.