Google: Our position on California's No on 8 campaign (supports gay marriage)

[Newsjock]

Source: 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.

Posted by Sergey Brin, Co-founder & President, Technology

Read more: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/our-position-on-californias-no-on-8.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I knew there were other reasons that I like Google!

Good for them...

K&R

:patriot:

[David Zephyr]

2. Wow!

Prop 8 is trending toward defeat.

[4lbs]

10. Current CA trends show that Prop 8 will get almost 60% NOes.

Since the original Prop that passed CA which in essence banned same-sex marriage, there has been a huge shift in CA voter philosophy.

At least 55% and up to 60% of Californians now support same-sex marriages. Expect Prop 8 to fail, which would then uphold the CA Supreme Court ruling earlier this year allowing same-sex marriages.

[heliarc]

3. Hear Hear! nt

[Zhade]

4. YEAH!

NT!

[superconnected]

5. Impressive Google. They are modern.

[bitchkitty]

6. I heart Google! n/t

[and-justice-for-all]

7. Kick ass! nt

[skyounkin]

8. Wow- nice statement to make on your

10th anniversary!!

Go Google!!!!

[davidinalameda]

9. the haters can't use Google

can't wear Levi's or drink Pepsi

can't eat at McDonald's; drive Fords; etc etc etc

poor guys

maybe they should join our side!

[LiberalFighter]

13. I wonder if the haters can be driven out of the USA when they can't buy or use certain products?

If only!!

Our best hope is to diminish their kind. Hopefully most will accept.

[LiberalFighter]

11. They are truly doing what is best for their business to suceed.

Employ the best and the brightest regardless of their sexuality.

It doesn't excuse some other mistakes on Google's part. At least they are doing the right thing in other parts of their business.

[moggie]

12. Why the respect?

While I of course support Google's position, I dislike that they feel they have to say that they "respect the strongly-held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument". How can you respect the belief that some people should be denied their "fundamental rights"? By all means respect the right for people to believe that, but the belief itself deserves no respect whatsoever. Would you respect the strongly-held beliefs of KKK members?

[davidinalameda]

14. it's called being diplomatic

and it's still okay to be homophobic publicly while it's not okay to be publicly racist

[dickthegrouch]

15. Fantastic as this news is, we can't afford to be complacent

I have been volunteering each Tuesday at the Billy De Frank Center in San Jose on phone banks organized by No on 8.

We need more people to volunteer for these phone banks and more people to donate to the campaign. The opposition is raising about $3 for every $2 of ours. The good news is that we are talking with a lot of voters and making sure they understand to vote "No" if they want to preserve same sex marriage. (A lot of even gay folks aren't quite sure).

Please join the campaign. Go to www.noonprop8.com and find out what we need today. Come to the De Frank Center on Tuesday 6:30pm - 9:30pm and talk to voters - We'll give you training and coaching if you've never done it before. It's fun and productive.

Let's not be disappointed as we were after Prop 22.

[CADEMOCRAT7]

16. Thank you Google. nt

[CreateCandor]

17. Vote No on Arizona prop 102

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GpuZyWAk-M