Apple Backs Gay Marriage Filing with Supreme Court

Apple is one of 60 companies that has endorsed a filing with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting gay marriage. The Court is reviewing the constitutionality of Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California in 2008.

Apple joins other companies in opposing same sex marriage bansApple joins other companies in opposing same sex marriage bans

Along with Apple, other companies such as Facebook, Nike, Intel, Qualcomm, Barnes & Noble, and Xerox are supporting the move to shoot down the marriage ban. Another 200 companies are lining up to back a second gay rights case before the Supreme Court, too, according to Bloomberg.

Apple openly opposed Proposition 8 when it was put before California voters in 2008 and even donated US$100,000 in support of same sex marriage. At the time, Apple issued a statement saying,

Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employeesi same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a personis fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.

The concept that all people should have the right to marry, and to take advantage of the benefits that go along with marriage, has been a point of heated debate among politicians and religious leaders. Only nine states recognize same sex marriage so far, and explicitly prohibiting those marriages as California does is seen as a social and business problem by the companies that are backing the move to reverse Proposition 8.

"No matter how welcoming the corporate culture, it cannot overcome the societal stigma institutionalized by Proposition 8 and similar laws," the filing states.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Proposition 8 case, along with the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act case starting in March.