Coming Out of the PC Closet

By David Bunnell, Editor, MacWorld and PC World Magazines

"A call to action! Oppression in Georgia threatens the free, open spirit of our personal computer community."

Usually in this column I focus on issues largely relevant only to the personal computer community. Now, in a departure from my regular subject matter, I'd like to address an issue with much broader social significance. It's one, I believe, that's important enough to merit your attention and your involvement.

Recently, I received a letter from Governor Joe Frank Harris of Georgia inviting me to take part in a technology tour of the Atlanta area. He's looking for good press about that region's great technological opportunities. Of course, Georgia has some wonderful success stories. After all, it's the home of some major personal computer companies and industry leaders.

Unfortunately, Georgia, like a handful of other states, happens to be the home of an oppressive law whose spirit stifles the very progressiveness Governor Harris hopes to promote in his quest for high-tech immigrants to his state.

I'm referring to the Georgia state law, recently upheld by the U. S. Supreme Court, that outlaws sodomy (defined as oral and/or anal sex)--even when practiced by consenting adults in the privacy of their own homes.

This statute threatens the personal sexual freedom of everyone--heterosexuals and gays alike.

By threatening to imprison or punish offenders, this archaic law may violate constitutional rights, including the Eighth Amendment's ban against "cruel and unusual punishment" and the Fourth Amendment's guarantee of "the right of the people to be secure in their persons [and] houses."

You may well ask, what does a law against sodomy have to do with personal computers and high technology? The answer is that the law conflicts with the very vision that compelled the growth of personal computers.

The original vision of the personal computer world was based on the principle of a progressive, laissez-faire capitalist society. One that allowed for more personal expression and gave people greater decision-making power. A society where people where judged by their contributions and not their lifestyles.

Therefore, I feel that the personal computer world should think twice about supporting high-tech development in states that lack a decent social climate for high tech to operate in.

In fact, it would behoove the state of Georgia and other states with similar laws to consider the sensibilities of those very individuals they are seeking to attract to their high-tech corridors.

The personal computer was created by renegade hobbyists who were committed to individualism. The PC promise--which thrives and is upheld by many of this industry's founders--is to preserve and enhance the power of the individual.

What that means is more freedom. Not less freedom.

Today, that same open spirit prevails in many personal computer companies where employees wear blue jeans and T-shirts to work. Where they have the freedom to come and go as they like, as long as they're really good at what they do. Their value as employees directly relates to the value of their work.

The industry guardians of the original PC vision are careful to foster this creativity. In doing so, they allow for a more richly diverse world and society. In fact, personal computer technology is moving away from what had been predominantly white, upper-middle-class management, to the great benefit of our society as well as other societies around the world. This broad-mindedness is helping to create new jobs, new opportunities, and new markets every day.

Now, it's extremely important to recognize that gay people are among the foremost contributors to the creation, success, and fulfillment of the personal computer vision.

Many programmers, designers, and engineers who happen to be gay have been the brains behind some of the most significant products that helped revolutionize our information-driven society.

How can people who are gay feel secure living in Georgia when an inhumane law hangs over their heads like the sword of Damocles?

In the meantime, I think we can take certain decisive steps to combat sexual apartheid in Georgia. Changing the law there would make it easier to reverse similar laws in other states.

PC users who are concerned about Georgia's sodomy law should use their PCs to create and distribute mailing lists of Georgians who are influential in the state legislature and the civil rights movement.

Perhaps a massive letter-writing campaign would unleash the power of the PC to foster an environment in Georgia that we can all support and enjoy. Atlanta is a wonderful place, after all. It's one of the most elegant and charming cities in the world.

Above all, as concerned citizens--not only of the personal computer community but of the world beyond the keyboard--we should come out of our closets and rally to the cause of justice and freedom by exorcising this distinctly user-unfriendly law.

I encourage concerned readers to begin the campaign by writing to:

The Hon. Governor Joe Frank Harris State of Georgia Office of the Governor Atlanta, GA 30334

(End of editorial)

(PC World and Macworld are two of the largest-circulation computer magazines in the country. I plan to write David Bunnell to thank him for using his considerable editorial clout in the cause of justice for gays. I suggest that you do the same: David Bunnell, Editor, Macworld (or PC World), 501 Second St., #600, San Francisco, CA 94107. He may also be reached on Compuserve at 70370,702 or on Source at BCW440.

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