Less than ten days after being promoted, Brendan Eich has resigned as the CEO of Mozilla. Eich, who co-founded the organization that makes the world’s second most popular desktop browser, became a lightening rod for both pro-equality and pro-discrimination advocates over his support of Prop 8 and subsequent responses to criticism.
In a statement posted this afternoon to the Mozilla blog apologizing for their choice of Eich as the public face of the organization, their slow response to the growing attacks, and reiterating the organization’s support for diversity, equality, free speech and an open internet, Mitchell Baker, the executive chairwoman of the board, announced Eich’s resignation:
Mozilla prides itself on being held to a different standard and, this past week, we didn’t live up to it. We know why people are hurt and angry, and they are right: it’s because we haven’t stayed true to ourselves.
We didn’t act like you’d expect Mozilla to act. We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better.
CREDO and GLAAD worked with Mozilla after both a grassroots and internal Mozilla firestorm erupted when news broke of Eich’s elevation to CEO. One software startup, founded by a binational same-sex couple personally harmed by by Prop 8 (to which Eich had donated $1000 to support) quietly announced it was boycotting Mozilla. That sparked a flood of criticism against Mozilla, and led to several personal public statements from Mozilla employees asking Eich to “step down.”
Eich’s personal statement announcing his support for diversity and LGBT equality in the workplace, which included an all-but-hidden acknowledgment of the “pain” his support of Prop 8 had caused did little to assuage angered employees and Firefox users.
A short-lived but highly publicized blocking of the Firefox browser by online dating site OkCupid hurled the news of Eich’s anti-gay stance into the mainstream. And an interview with CNET didn’t help the embattled CEO. He refused to offer his personal opinion on same-sex marriage and curiously repeatedly pointed to the company’s work in Indonesia as an apparent deflection.
Finally, in an almost hysterical announcement, National Organization For Marriage co-founder and Regnerus anti-gay study supporter Robert P. George urged a boycott of Firefox by his conservative anti-LGBT friends.
CREDO Action is asking internet users to support Mozilla through its transition, and to share words of support via social media.
GLAAD also offered words of support.
“Mozilla’s strong statement in favor of equality today reflects where corporate America is: inclusive, safe, and welcoming to all,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.
Here is the complete Mozilla statement:
Mozilla prides itself on being held to a different standard and, this past week, we didn’t live up to it. We know why people are hurt and angry, and they are right: it’s because we haven’t stayed true to ourselves.
We didn’t act like you’d expect Mozilla to act. We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better.
Brendan Eich has chosen to step down from his role as CEO. He’s made this decision for Mozilla and our community.
Mozilla believes both in equality and freedom of speech. Equality is necessary for meaningful speech. And you need free speech to fight for equality. Figuring out how to stand for both at the same time can be hard.
Our organizational culture reflects diversity and inclusiveness. We welcome contributions from everyone regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender-identity, language, race, sexual orientation, geographical location and religious views. Mozilla supports equality for all.
We have employees with a wide diversity of views. Our culture of openness extends to encouraging staff and community to share their beliefs and opinions in public. This is meant to distinguish Mozilla from most organizations and hold us to a higher standard. But this time we failed to listen, to engage, and to be guided by our community.
While painful, the events of the last week show exactly why we need the web. So all of us can engage freely in the tough conversations we need to make the world better.
We need to put our focus back on protecting that Web. And doing so in a way that will make you proud to support Mozilla.
What’s next for Mozilla’s leadership is still being discussed. We want to be open about where we are in deciding the future of the organization and will have more information next week. However, our mission will always be to make the Web more open so that humanity is stronger, more inclusive and more just: that’s what it means to protect the open Web.
We will emerge from this with a renewed understanding and humility — our large, global, and diverse community is what makes Mozilla special, and what will help us fulfill our mission. We are stronger with you involved.
Thank you for sticking with us.
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Mitchell Baker, Executive Chairwoman