Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich resigns after gay rights row
By Sam Rigby
Mozilla’s CEO Brendan Eich has resigned after it emerged that he made a donation to a campaign hoping to outlaw same-sex marriage.
Executive Chairwoman Mitchell Baker announced the decision, adding that “Mozilla prides itself on being held to a different standard”.
Eich donated $1,000 (approximately £600) to a political campaign hoping to put a stop to equal marriage in California.
The news resulted in online dating site OkCupid asking its users to boycott Mozilla’s browser Firefox earlier this week.
Announcing the decision in blog post, Chairwoman Baker said: “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.”
Several Mozilla board members departed the company during the controversy, when it appeared that Eich would remain as CEO.
> Where are the top LGBT honeymoon destinations?
> Watch a video of one of the UK’s first gay weddings