Google says NO to Proposition 8
California's extreme right successfully pushed for a state constitutional referendum on same-sex marriage. Known as Proposition 8, it's the latest effort by Republicans to "move the base" and get them out to vote in November.
Proposition 8, also known as the Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry Act, will appear on the November 2008 ballot in California. It was previously titled the Protect Marriage Act. It has also been known as the Same-Sex Marriage Ban or the Limit on Marriage Amendment. If it passes, it will add a new constitutional amendment to the California Constitution that will have the following text: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." The ballot title for the measure says that Prop. 8 "eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry".
Well, in one of the most political statements I've seen a US tech company make in ... for ever ... Sergey Brin, Google co-founder and President of Technology, blogged the company's position on the proposition :
Our position on California's No on 8 campaign
9/26/2008 03:23:00 PMAs an Internet company, Google is an active participant in policy debates surrounding information access, technology and energy. Because our company has a great diversity of people and opinions -- Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, all religions and no religion, straight and gay -- we do not generally take a position on issues outside of our field, especially not social issues. So when Proposition 8 appeared on the California ballot, it was an unlikely question for Google to take an official company position on.
However, while there are many objections to this proposition -- further government encroachment on personal lives, ambiguously written text -- it is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8. While we respect the strongly-held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument, we see this fundamentally as an issue of equality. We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8 -- we should not eliminate anyone's fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love.
Posted by Sergey Brin, Co-founder & President, Technology
FTMFW!
Bravo Google, for sticking out for the Gayglers.
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2008 Elections | Corporate Interests | Gay Marriage | Gay Rights | Google
Please contact Richard Peterson
Submitted by Jake (not verified) on 2 October 2008 - 10:48am.
Please let Richard Peterson, the Pepperdine law professor featured in the yes on prop 8 ads know what you think of his “lies”.
Richard.Peterson@pepperdine.edu
Forget letting him know.
Submitted by Jan (not verified) on 6 October 2008 - 5:52pm.
Forget letting him know. Tell his bosses.
pr@pepperdine.edu
andrew.benton@pepperdine.edu
ken.starr@pepperdine.edu
The future of society is at a crossroads here with Prop 8
Men and women are different.That diversity is important. Each brings unique approach to raising kids and future generations. Removing gender will change the focus of marriage and why we promote it. This isn't about 2 people in love, nor about "benefits"; that's Domestic Partnerships. No need to destroy the purpose of marriage for a stamp of approval for personal choices of a few. Prop 8 isn't about "rights". Everyone is man or woman. All have right of marriage of man/woman. Some have no interest in that, their choice. But it is intolerant for them to demand redefinition for the rest. Changing it to include any combo of genders weakens marriage. Gays can live as they want. But society needs to promote marriage of man/woman, because it is critical for the future survival of society, enough that 4 judges ruling by fiat must not be allowed to override the will of the people on defining this most vital foundational institution of society. Friends, please, Yes on 8.