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Microsoft donates $10,000 to Seattle Pride

Microsoft donates $10,000 to Seattle Pride
Corporation goes public this week as official sponsor of Seattle Pride by Robert Raketty - SGN Staff Writer Dave Lewis, a member of the Board of Directors for GLEAM, Microsofts internal Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Diversity group, confirmed via email this week to the SGN that Microsoft has signed on as co-sponsor of Seattles GLBT Pride Parade, March and Rally. Yes, Microsoft is a Titanium level sponsor this year of Pride and as such Microsofts logo will be included in the list of sponsors in the Pride Committee materials this year. We will also have a booth near the stage area in the Park on Pride weekend after the parade, Lewis wrote. The Seattle Pride Committee, organizers of the Seattle event, told the SGN that Microsoft has pledged $10,000 to the organization, making Microsoft a Titanium level sponsor of Pride 2005. The companys logo appeared on SPCs website earlier this week. I think it opens an opportunity for Microsoft to stay involved with Pride for years to come, said SPCs Marking Director Dale Kershner. Certainly with as many Gay and Lesbian employees as they have it sends a positive message, especially given their public relations difficulties of late. The badly bruised company received much criticism lately for its decision to not support the Anderson-Murray Civil Rights bill this year to add sexual orientation to the states human rights code. The company later said it planned to be neutral, then soon after released a press statement declaring their full support of the legislation next year. Kershner described the relationship as very business like and professional. It is just like, Send us the information so we can ship the check to your bank. That has literally been it. There has been no communication, except from their LGBT employee group, he said. For its sponsorship, Microsoft will receive a booth in the coveted Sponsorship Circle, which is located near the main stage at the rally. Their logo will appear in promotional materials and the companys contingent will receive priority placement in the Pride March. A source close to the situation, who asked not to be named, said the company would play only a minor role, but that GLEAM members will march and staff the booth. According to Kershner, a couple of GLEAM representatives took the sponsorship information to Microsoft on his behalf. He said it took only about three days time before the company agreed to sponsor the event at the platinum level. He said that SPC had asked for a donation greater than $10,000 but said that the donation received is a good first step for the company, which had never sponsored the event in the past. Kershner said the SPC is currently in negotiations with Wells Fargo Bank and Washington Mutual which, he said, is discussing some very significant sponsorship this year. Thanks to our sponsors, [Seattle Pride 20050 going to be bigger and better than ever. We are going to have a lot of new and exciting things for people to do, he said. According to SPCs website, a crowd of over 100,000 gather to celebrate Seattle Pride, an annual event for the last 31 years. The event will take place the last weekend in June on Seattles Capitol Hill. For more information about Seattle Pride, visit www.seattlepride.org or call (206) 322-9561. Microsoft Spokeswoman Tami Bagasse was said to have been in a day-long meeting on Thursday and was unavailable for comment. A staffer of Waggener Edstrom in Portland, a public relations firm that represents Microsoft, told the SGN would it would be unable to return our request for comment by press time.