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June 19, 2013
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 Google Comes Out for Gay MarriagePosted on Sep 27, 2008Co-founder Sergey Brin explains on Google’s blog why the tech giant officially opposes California’s Prop. 8, a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage in the state: “While there are many objections to this proposition ... it is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8.” Sergey Brin on the Official Google Blog: As 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. Advertisement TAGS:
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By Matt 48, September 30, 2008 at 9:22 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Nobozos!
Some more insights about the (in)equality of gay marriage versus hetero sexual marriage! We are a gay binational couple. Hetero sexual binational couples can marry! Once married the foreign partner is entitled to apply for a green card and eventually for citizenship. If proposition 8 is defeated, we would be allowed to marry here in California, but it still would not entitle me to apply for a green card or citizenship. Because the Federal Government did not want this topic on the ballot of the last two presidential elections, they decided to place the decision of gay marriage in the hand of state legislature! The Federal Government’s refusal to deal with this issue has allowed several states to ammend their constituition, and to pass a ban on gay marriage! It baffles me hearing conservatives complain how the California Surpreme Court ignored that the majority of the people in California are against gay marriage! They should re-take their history courses! Most civil right legislation was passed against the will of the majority.
Report thisEven if proposition 8 is defeated, gay married couples will still not have “equal” rights. So much for “equality”?
By progressivepam, September 29, 2008 at 5:58 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Here are more ways “equality” shows up… death benefits… you can name a spouse. There’s community property—which has significant tax value. If you’re dying, and you’ve been in a relationship with your partner for decades, your parent will have more say over what to do with you than your partner. (And maybe your parent doesn’t even acknowledge your relationship.) If you have children, you can both legally parent them. etc., etc… Lots of equality issues. Making gay marriage illegal does not stop people of the same sex loving each other or making commitments to each other. It just makes them second class citizens.
Report thisBy Virginia777, September 29, 2008 at 10:29 am Link to this comment
I don’t consider Google “ok”. They let right-wing hate bloggers get away with blatant racism and overt hate on their blogs - without censure. They do this by having much weaker “terms of service” rules for their blogs than Yahoo. If they really want to support Gays, how about better online ethical guidelines?
Report thisBy jake3988, September 29, 2008 at 9:06 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Where was the support when the other states wrote this into their constitutions? I think it’s 18 but don’t quote me states ALREADY have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. Where was the support then?
We need to stand up and fight discrimination!
I’m a man, and I fight for women’s rights. I’m hetero and I damn will fight for gay rights too.
Report thisBy nobozos, September 28, 2008 at 8:17 am Link to this comment
Jeff29:
Okay, here’s an example of ‘equality’ for you:
When my husband was dying from cancer, I was able to take my 12-week Federal family leave from work to care for him and be there with him at the end. My insurance covered his outrageously expensive drugs and other things his did not.
My husband’s wonderful gay niece, who helped us every day despite holding 2 jobs, would not be able, under current law, to do that for her life partner if she became gravely ill, and would have little say in any decision after her death.
Just one of many inequalities, but a big one.
Report thisBy Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, September 28, 2008 at 4:34 am Link to this comment
nobozos,
I do bitch a lot. Why would you want me hung? I’ve always known that it’s wrong to discriminate against other good people who are not like me and who don’t work for me.
But you know what? I’m going to try real hard not to be so captious. There’s enough negativity in the world w/o my adding to it. Everyone should stop complaining. Let’s stop complaining about the bailout. Those hard-working senators and economic geniuses working long hours to save our nation shouldn’t have on their minds that most of the country is against the bailout. That could interfere with the negotiations.
Zounds, there I go again.
I will try. Honest.
Report thisBy Inherit The Wind, September 27, 2008 at 10:04 pm Link to this comment
Howz about:
1) What two happily consenting adults do in private is nobody’s f***ing business.
2) Two happily consenting adults may form any kind of personal contract and civil union they like. Let it be covered by contract law.
3) The word “Marriage” should only be administered as a religious function. The Capt of a ship may be able to join two people, but unless he’s a minister, priest, rabbi, imam or whatever, he cannot “Marry” them.
4) The only legal term for a marriage is “Civil Union.” The title of “Wife”/“Husband” will totally be at the discretion of the couple.
5) EVERYBODY ELSE MIND THEIR OWN F’in’ business.
Notice that the implemention of the ITW rules will have ZERO effect on existing marriages.
It has long been MY contention that there is NOTHING the gay community can do, and interaction they can make that has ANY influence whatsover on my own marriage.
I think we can distill it down to: If happily consenting adults do it, it’s NOBODY’S BUSINESS.
Report thisBy Jeff29, September 27, 2008 at 9:38 pm Link to this comment
Can someone please explain to me the “equality” argument against Prop 8? Sergy Brin said it, Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg, and people here have all claimed that it is an issue of equality. Please explain.
Report thisBy Outraged, September 27, 2008 at 8:39 pm Link to this comment
I think it’s great. Good for google. There comes a time when everyone needs to stand up and be counted. And at this time and place Google has chosen to forge ahead regarding this issue.
The worst thing that can happen to any culture, group or nationality is when there are those who claim superiority and in turn attempt to inflict their beliefs (without validity) upon the rest of us.
We all need to stand against injustice wherever we encounter it and do what we can to stop it. I feel this is Google’s way of doing that. Thanks to Google for that.
Report thisBy nobozos, September 27, 2008 at 7:51 pm Link to this comment
Geez, Dr. Know,
You’d bitch if they hung you from a golden rope.
Report thisBy Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, September 27, 2008 at 6:31 pm Link to this comment
But are we to assume that, if Google had no gay employees, it still would have come out against prop 8?
I’d have been more impressed if they hadn’t mentioned their gay employees or if they had none and still came out against prop 8. That would indicate, in my mind, a genuine interest in equality and maybe not self-promotion.
Furthermore, how can anyone “respect” an opinion that is against equality? I certainly don’t and I believe most of you don’t either. I think they should have thought a little longer about how they were going to word their protest.
Report thisBy nobozos, September 27, 2008 at 11:56 am Link to this comment
Good for google.
The Christian right can stick it up their collective asses. Gays are citizens of the United States too. By allowing a nearly two thousand year old fairy tale, with only ONE reference (if that’s what Leviticus even means), guide our laws is outrageous.
We owe our gay brothers and sisters an equal world. Any other policy is discriminatory and unfair.
America needs to grow up.
Report this