Who knew that software could be made to behave like a Republican candidate in a close race?  H&R Block, once of the leading tax preparation firms in the U.S., has offered a $100 coupon, or a free edition of its tax prep software, to thousands of gay couples.  Last year’s tax season saw the advent of a systemic bug in the software that did not recognize joint returns from gay couples in marriages or civil unions, and universally forced them to seek the council of an accountant. 

To be frank about the whole issue, while H&R Block is to be commended for its swift action to correct the matter—the ACLU had only filed suit in March, light speed by the standards of the American legal system—they’re still getting off the hook in a big way here.  The couple who sought out the ACLU, Jason Smith and Settimo Pisu, were charged $155 to do their taxes—meaning that the dollars and cents don’t work out—AND it strikes us as a bit cynical to apologize for discriminatory behavior by offering materials that ensure that the business will return to you.  The reasons for H&R Block to do this are myriad—including the spin of “of course we want your business, and we’ll prove it to you”—but it should come across as less-than-overwhelming to the LGBT community. 

By Pinke.biz writer Ben Ray. Check out his blog at What's Required.

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