Brendan Eich's Resignation: Did Mozilla CEO Step Down Because Of A 'Gay Mafia'?

Was A 'Gay Mafia' Really Behind Mozilla CEO's Surprise Resignation?

A number of political pundits have expressed their disapproval over the surprise resignation of Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich after news of his support of a 2008 anti-gay marriage campaign came to light.

Last week, Bill Maher stirred the pot even more, suggesting that Eich's resignation was the result of pressure from a "gay mafia." Not surprisingly, Maher's remarks have since sparked heated social media debate -- and some lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates say his words are ripe for misinterpretation.

"What happened in the Brendan Eich situation was actually not as a result of pressure that came from within the LGBT movement," said Freedom to Marry's John Becker, who's also a HuffPost Gay Voices blogger. Noting that Maher has been an outspoken ally to the LGBT community in the past, he added, "This is all about internal pressure from within the Mozilla community itself."

Activist and political consultant Scott Wooledge echoed those sentiments, saying that Eich's resignation was partly due to "pre-existing opposition" from within the Mozilla group, as evidenced by the fact that three board members stepped down ahead of the CEO's appointment.

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