In an unprecedented show of support from the business community, high profile companies, including Apple Inc., Nike Inc., Facebook Inc. and Xerox Corp, have signed on to friend-of-the-court briefs due to be filed this week. The first brief challenges the federal Defense of Marriage Act, Section 3, which defines marriage as solely between a man and a woman and is said to deny legally married gay couples certain benefits that heterosexual married couples currently receive.
The second brief urges the abolition of Proposition 8, the California law that banned gay marriage in that state. The briefs are to be presented to the Supreme Court in cases on March 26 and 27. The briefs are also supported by various Republicans including six former governors.
So are gay rights good for business? Select major U.S. companies believe so and, according to a recent BusinessWeek article, state that bans are bad for workplace morale and imped recruiting efforts.
All eyes are on President Barack Obama as he prepares to make the White House’s stance on the matter known.
