In attempts to encourage diversity, many companies are looking for ways to make their work environments more friendly places for gay workers, but these policies are seeing a backlash. An employee of AT&T sued after being fired for refusing to sign off on portions of a company handbook that called on employees to respect and value differences among them, including sexual orientation. A Verizon employee sued for the same reason, saying it violated her religious beliefs.

Several organizations have spoken out on both sides of the issue. The Szabo case seems to hinge on the fact that Szabo used a mass mailing to get his point out. If he had been talking about Jews or African Americans instead of gays, would the reaction have been different?

Joseph Weintraub at Babson College feels that Kodak had a right to fire Szabo. He states that employees check their free-expression rights at the workplace door.