If you haven't heard of Ellen Pao, please keep reading. The interim Reddit CEO just waged a gender discrimination lawsuit [1] against her former employer and one of the most powerful venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, CA: Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Pao alleged that the firm discriminated against her because she's a woman — for instance, women were excluded from a company dinner because they "kill the buzz" [2] — and eventually fired her after she spoke out about it. The entire drama lasted throughout March and ended last week, when she lost on all counts. After the verdict, her supporters started a #ThankYouEllenPao hashtag, thanking her for speaking out in an industry where women often face sexism [3] and are far too underrepresented. Pao also tweeted about the need for change.
6. If we do not share our stories and shine a light on inequities, things will not change
— Ellen Pao (@ekp) March 28, 2015 [4]
#ThankYouEllenPao [5] for telling your story. We need more women telling their stories. You are appreciated and loved.
— Randi Harper (@freebsdgirl) March 27, 2015 [6]
#ThankYouEllenPao [7] for making Silicon Valley - and everyone else - pay attention. Now they can't claim they didn't know. #changetheratio [8]
— rachelsklar (@rachelsklar) March 28, 2015 [9]
#ThankYouEllenPao [10] because even if a pervasively crappy culture isn't legally culpable, it still needs sunlight and change.
— Molly Wood (@mollywood) March 28, 2015 [11]
#ThankYouEllenPao [12] for agreeing to be the public face of a pervasive problem that affects us all.
— Christina Xu (@xuhulk) March 27, 2015 [13]
#ThankYouEllenPao [14] for not backing down, and for not apologizing for who you are.
— Deja-Boo (@mk_patter) March 27, 2015 [15]
#ellenpao [16] is a superhero. Please show your support with #ThankYouEllenPao [17]
— Randi Harper (@freebsdgirl) March 27, 2015 [18]
Sadly, people who have no idea what they're talking about others took over the hashtag — we can't help but laugh at their misinformed comments.
> Ellen Pao files frivolous lawsuit
> Loses case
> Feminists declare victory
That's delusion 101
#ThankYouEllenPao [19] pic.twitter.com/UJYCXo3OZh [20]
— A Zidane in Blonde (@thewtfmagazine) March 28, 2015 [21]
#ThankYouEllenPao [22] We need a legal precedent for these kind of false allegations.
— MundaneMatt (@mundanematt) March 28, 2015 [23]
#ThankYouEllenPao [24] for sending a clear message: hiring women could cost your company millions from frivolous lawsuits. #PaosLaw [25]
— Airport✨ (@CHOBITCOIN) March 28, 2015 [26]
#ThankYouEllenPao [27] for showing that sometimes tantrums don't work. A good lesson for anyone else who doesn't want to work hard.
— Dan (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ▽ (@DHMapplethorpe) March 28, 2015 [28]
#ThankYouEllenPao [29] for showing your supporters can't even manage to "win" at a hashtag on Twitter. You are losers in every way!
— Mike Cernovich (@PlayDangerously) March 28, 2015 [30]
But let's ignore them, shall we? Instead, we end this with powerful words from Pao herself.
7. Hopefully my case will inspire the venture capital industry to level the playing field for everyone, including women and minorities
— Ellen Pao (@ekp) March 28, 2015 [31]