Attorney General James Uthmeier says software giant Microsoft is exhibiting bias against religious groups that primarily impacts Christians, representing potential violations of Florida’s Civil Rights Act.
“Christian-based nonprofit organizations have been denied access to Microsoft’s nonprofit discount program. We expect Microsoft’s cooperation in fixing this problem, or there will be consequences,” Uthmeier said.
The program explicitly names nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations, public libraries, public museums and various health care organizations as being eligible for discounts.
But some groups, such as those who approach women’s health from a Christian standpoint, are excluded, Uthmeier wrote the company.
“Over the last few years, certain religiously affiliated nonprofits have been denied access to Microsoft’s nonprofit discount program. These organizations — including private Christian schools, Christian churches, Christian nonprofits, and faith-based pregnancy resource centers — are present throughout the United States. Many call Florida home.”
Uthmeier alleges that Microsoft “has quietly enacted some sort of tacit religious or ideological litmus test to determine institutions’ eligibility.”
“While many applicants weren’t given a reason for their denial, some were given the vague response that they allegedly fell outside of the ‘philanthropic scope’ of Microsoft’s program. The exclusion of pregnancy resource centers was evidently based on these organizations not offering ‘full women’s health services’ or, put plainly, abortions,” Uthmeier wrote.
“Given the protections afforded to religiously affiliated institutions, and the lack of requirements that they must perform these procedures, we find this inconsistent with your own policy that states it will consider relevant exemptions for religious organizations.”
Uthmeier calls on the company to clarify whether it is “pro-abortion and hostile to the pro-life community” or “harbors some hostility to Christian educational institutions.”
“Don’t hide anti-life and anti-Christian biases behind a mellifluous nondiscrimination policy that suggests an all-comers policy to the nonprofit community,” Uthmeier added.
“In Florida, this sort of anti-religious, anti-conservative, and anti-consumer discrimination is intolerable. I therefore urge Microsoft to stop its religious discrimination and begin adhering to its own nondiscriminatory commitments. Or at minimum, Microsoft should drop its ‘inclusive’ pretense and publicly admit its hostility to Christian non-profits and pro-life pregnancy resource centers. The choice is yours, but the status quo is dishonest and illegal.”
Florida Politics has reached out to Microsoft for comment, but it was not provided at time of publication. Should the company respond to our inquiry, this story will be updated.
The post James Uthmeier accuses Microsoft of ‘anti-life and anti-Christian biases’ appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
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