Gay rights movement gets $65 million boost

SEATTLE, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- A gay rights foundation in Seattle, along with 10 related non-profit groups, has been left $65 million by a man who helped create Microsoft.

The Pride Foundation and the 10 other organizations have received the estate bestowal from Ric Weiland, who helped found the technology giant with Bill Gates and Paul Allen, The Seattle Times said Sunday.

That generous donation may mark the largest financial donation to the U.S. gay and lesbian community in history, the newspaper reported.

Altogether, Weiland donated $160 million to charity, including a $60 million donation to Stanford University. Groups focused on scientific research and environmental protection also benefited from Weiland's generosity.

Zan McColloch-Lussier, Pride Foundation director of communications, said the donation from Weiland, who committed suicide in 2006, would help maintain the fight for equal rights for all gays and lesbians.

"It's a gigantic investment in our equal-rights movement," he told the Times. "It will be here long after our kids' kids are gone."