(Salem Oregon) Nike has no intention of following Microsoft through a revolving door on gay rights, planting its running shoes firmly in the ground on behalf of same-sex couples.

The Oregon-based company on Wednesday announced its support to two LGBT civil rights bills in the state: legislation to create civil unions and an antidiscrimination bill.

In a statement to the legislature Nike calls on lawmakers to pass both measures.

"Nike is committed to diversity and inclusion and strives to treat our employees equally without regard to sexual orientation or marital status," says the letter signed on behalf of the company by Wes Coleman Nike, Vice President of Global Human Resources.

"The non-discrimination provisions contained within SB 1000 are consistent with Nike's corporate policies and practices and our support of similar legislation at the federal and state level. We strongly support the non-discrimination provisions in SB 1000, as this legislation will extend a set of basic rights to many Oregonians.

"One of the Nike Maxims is to 'Do the Right Thing,' which asks our employees not to look for things that make us different, but to look for things that make us better. Many of our employees' lives will be better because of the passage of these bills," Coleman says in the letter.

The bills, endorsed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski have passed the committee stage and are headed for a vote in the full Senate were they are expected pass. The measures, though, are expected to face a tough fight in the House.

Nike's move won praise from Basic Rights Oregon, the state's largest LGBT civil rights group. In a statement the organization said it "applauds Nike for taking seriously its ethical responsibility not simply to promote Oregon business, but Oregon values of fairness, equality, dignity and respect."

The move also caught the notice of the Human Rights Campaign.

"When it comes to doing the right thing, Nike follows their own mantra: Just do it. Equality is more than the right thing, it's also sound business practice," said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

"By ensuring that employees can do their work without worrying about protecting their families, companies help their bottom line. It's good for business and it's good for the community.

In neighboring Washington state, Microsoft ran into a storm of controversy when it withdrew its support for a gay civil rights bill that was up for a vote in the Washington legislature.

The measure lost by a single vote in the Senate following Microsoft's move. It had already passed the House.

Microsoft's decision was taken after a meeting between company executives and the Rev. Ken Hutcherson, a Seattle evangelist who had threatened a national boycott of Microsoft if it did not disavow itself from the bill which would have made discrimination against members of the LGBT community illegal.

After weeks of dithering in which it took a major pubic relations hit the company turned around and announced it would support a future move to pass the legislation.

©365Gay.com 2005