Mozilla the company that creates the popular open source web browser Firefox has found itself in a lose/lose situation this week.

The company’s employees are up in arms and calling for the resignation of new CEO Brendan Eich. It was revealed that Eich is an opponent of same sex marriage and had donated $1000 to support California’s Proposition 8, which for a period of time outlawed same sex marriage. Many of the company’s employees took to social media to call for the new CEO’s resignation.

There have also been resignations from the company’s board in the last week but the organisations denies that this has any connection to controversy surrounding Eich’s appointment.

Dating website OK Cupid added their voice to the calls for Eich’s resignation, sending out a statement to all their users asking them to boycott the browser. Here in Australia the Victorian Aids Council and Gay Men’s Health Centre announced it would no longer be endorsing the use of Mozilla’s products within their organisation.

But criticism of the company is not limited to one side of the marriage equality debate. Robert George, the founder of the National Organisation for Marriage in the USA has called on people who are against marriage equality to also boycott the browser.

While facing opposition from both sides of the argument Mozilla has argued, that despite their new CEO’s thoughts, they remain committed to creating a workplace environment which is exclusive of all people.

OIP Staff