Apple Voices Support For Gay Marriage In California, Speaks Out Against Proposition 8

Keeping with its long traditional of support same-sex couples, Apple Inc. on Tuesday joined 60 other large American corporations in submitting a filing to the Supreme Court. The filing asks that the court continue extending marriage rights to gay people and vote against California’s Proposition 8.

“Friend of the court” filings are arriving from all over the country. The documents ask that the Supreme Court rule against Proposition 8, calling the bill unconstitutional. Proposition 8 passed with a narrow majority vote.

While voters chose to end gay marriage in California, “friends of the court” and other supporters argue that such a vote was unconstitutional because it goes against the constitutions promise of equal rights for all US citizens.

“Friend of the court” filings are arriving from various groups such as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and another group that includes 75 well-known Republican leaders.

Other tech firms joining Apple’s support include Ebay, Nike, Oracle, Office Depot, Panasonic, Qualcomm, Xerox, Zynga, Intel, and Facebook.

While other tech firms have promised to support gay marriage in California, it was Apple who first spoke out against Proposition 8. When the bill was first announced, Apple donated $100,000 to an anti-8 campaign.

Apple has always supported gay rights for same sex couples working at its various offices around the world, extending those couples full medical coverage for both partners and other support offered to straight workers.

Apple and other friends of the court are not only concerned with same-sex marriage, the two cases before Supreme court also address tax breaks, housing discrimination, and various other rights that would not be afforded to same-sex couples.

The two cases before the Supreme Court are Hollingsworth v. Perry (The Proposition 8 case) and United States v. Windsor (Defense of Marriage case).