Marc Benioff

Last week, Salesforce Chairman and CEO Marc Benioff received the Ric Weiland Award at GLAAD Gala San Francisco in recognition of his tireless support of the LGBTQ community. The Ric Weiland Award specifically honors an innovator in tech and new media and is named after Ric Weiland, a computer software pioneer and philanthropist. Together with his surviving partner Mike Schaefer, Weiland is known for his dedication to LGBT and HIV and AIDS organizations. The award was presented to Benioff by Re/code Executive Editor Kara Swisher. During his acceptance speech, Benioff announced that he would match all donations that evening – a pledge that led to an over $200,000 match.

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“Marc Benioff is an innovator not just in technology and business, but also in his advocacy to advance acceptance for the LGBT community,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO. “He is at the forefront of the corporate movement to stop discriminatory anti-LGBT bills across the country and his commitment to fairness and equality is steadfast.”

Benioff has been a vocal supporter of LGBT equality, especially following a series of anti-LGBT, discriminatory laws, starting in Indiana in 2015. As soon as Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed the state’s so-called “Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” Benioff vowed to use the power of Salesforce to urge a repeal of the Indiana law. The company canceled events, made plans to pull investments from outside of the state and Benioff even offered $50,000 relocation packages to employees that felt unsafe or unwelcomed in the state.