There goes Google, doing no evil again. Over the weekend, word burbled up that the tech giant was launching ‘Legalize Love,’ a campaign to fight for marriage equality around the world. That’s not quite the case; the news turned out to be the result of some over-optimistic blogging from 429.com. But Google is indeed beginning an international effort to combat workplace discrimination against gays in each of the countries it has offices in, starting with Singapore and Poland. Here’s the official statement from Google:Though our business and employees are located in offices around the world, our policies on non-discrimination are universal throughout Google. We are proud to be recognised as a leader in LGBT inclusion efforts, but there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality. Legalise Love is our call to decriminalise homosexuality and eliminate homophobia around the world.
At Google, we encourage people to bring their whole selves to work. In all of our 60 offices around the world, we are committed to cultivating a work environment where Googlers can be themselves and thrive. We also want our employees to have the same inclusive experience outside of the office, as they do at work, and for LGBT communities to be safe and to be accepted wherever they are.The initiative is spearheaded by Google’s London offices, hence the dearth of Zs.So, Google isn’t actually calling for marriage equality; instead they’re seeking an end to workplace discrimination and issuing a more generalized push for improved human rights. Singapore, for example, has some pretty reprehensible laws that criminalize consensual sex between two men. Poland has no laws that recognize same-sex unions. And what, pray tell, will Google be doing in an effort to procure those rights?Mostly, issuing the above press release. And admittedly, that’s fairly significant—obviously, when a company as hugely influential as Google makes a major public push for worker’s rights, it makes news, gives the chattering classes reason to chatter. But a closer look at the actual mechanics of Google’s campaign reveals that it’s a little short on action. Here, in Google’s words, is how the company will be executing its four-step plan to end workplace discrimination abroad:
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- “Celebrating Pride: Google has a long history of support for Pride Celebrations around the world. In 2011, over one thousand Googlers participated in Pride celebrations in a dozen cities to support equality … And it's not just through Pride that we show our support for the LGBT community. At Mardi Gras in Sydney, we hosted two Queer Thinking seminars on Activism in the Internet Age and Queer Careers, and in Singapore, we're sponsoring the Pink Dot celebration for the second consecutive year. And we've got plenty more to come in 2012 including World Pride in London, where we'll be marching with Googlers from over a dozen countries, and joined by one million visitors.
- Support for Partner Organisations: We support the work of organisations working to make a positive difference for LGBT communities …
- Giving Voice to Googlers: The Gayglers is Google's employee network for LGBT employees, friends, and allies. Gayglers chapters exist just about everywhere Google operates around the world – from San Francisco to New York, London to Zurich, Israel and India. As part of 2012 World Pride in London, 40 Gayglers leaders from Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America will attend our first Gayglers Summit for LGBT employees and straight allies, to discuss the challenges and opportunities that face international LGBT rights in 2012."
- “Convening Thought Leaders: We continually look for ways to educate the broader community about LGBT rights and inclusion, through seminars, trainings and conferences hosted at Google.”