09/29/2008
Google Comes Out Against California Same-Sex Marriage Ban
The company's founder Sergey Brin, posted this statement on the company's blog Friday afternoon:
"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."
It's unclear what further action by the company might be taken in the battle against Prop. 8.
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Posted 9:36 AM EST by Andy Towle in California, Gay Marriage, Google, News | Permalink
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WHERE ARE THE ADDS ON PROP. 8 ??? I started seeing the ads for yes on 8 but haven't seen the ads for NO on 8 yet....where are they????? just on Youtube??????
Posted by: Eric | Sep 29, 2008 9:57:13 AM
Sergey,
That's nice but talk is cheap, honey. Throw some of your mega-millions behind your stance.
Posted by: soulbrotha | Sep 29, 2008 10:03:01 AM
The name alone is worth millions. Thanks Google...the community appreciates it.
Eric, you've been living under a rock. There was discussion here on Andy's site and the rest of the gay blogs...during the Olympics they ran Vote No on 8 ads on TV
Posted by: Mike | Sep 29, 2008 10:23:52 AM
Thanks Google!
Posted by: Giovanni | Sep 29, 2008 10:37:40 AM
I haven't seen any ads either. They just ran them during the Olympics? Please! So where the hell did all that money given to all these No on 8 groups go? To somebody's gay swiss bank account?
Posted by: countess de gooch | Sep 29, 2008 10:51:56 AM
Sergey in DRAG!!!
http://web.archive.org/web/20021030152640/www-db.stanford.edu/~sergey/photos/drag96.jpg
I just wish Google wasn't complicit in blocking access to websites deemed 'inappropriate' by the Chinese government while having 'Don't Be Evil' as the company motto.
Posted by: Bading | Sep 29, 2008 10:53:22 AM
The "No On 8" spots are all over the primest of prime time premieres--on ABC, NBC and CBS. They're not flashy, but potent--and most decidedly on the air, not in "someone's Swiss bank account."
Posted by: ANON IN SOCAL | Sep 29, 2008 11:03:47 AM
As much as I appreciate these public statements of support for our cause in California (and I absolutely do appreciate them) I wish these California companies (Google, Levi's, etc.) would remember that they also have employees and millions of customers in Florida and Arizona; states that also have anti-gay marriage amendments on November’s ballot. PLEASE share some of that love for those fighting amendments in these other states.
I’m afraid that people are forgetting that AZ and FL are also being targeted by these anti-gay initiatives; ESPECIALLY Florida where Amendment 2 will not only make same-sex marriage illegal but it will also ban civil unions, domestic partnerships and any "other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof". This is WAY more restrictive than either of the other states' propositions.
Posted by: Zeke | Sep 29, 2008 11:52:22 AM
ZEKE you're right -- but now they are on-record for equal rights, which is great. What are the bigots going to do? STOP USING GOOGLE?!! Please -- most of them think Google IS the internetz.
Posted by: Strepsi | Sep 29, 2008 1:10:20 PM
I hope they do a Google event logo for gay marriage.
Posted by: crispy | Sep 29, 2008 1:29:40 PM
Where's Ellen? [Her MILLIONS not her lip service between inane interviews and recipes on her blog. She & Portia raised a million $ at a fundraiser last night at their Bel Air mansion to fight Prop 2 TO BENEFIT FARM ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7533540&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1
Where's Rosie?
Where's Elton?
Where's Melissa?
Where's kd?
Where's Greg Berlanti?
Where's Gus Van Sant?
Ad nauseum......
Posted by: Leland Frances | Sep 29, 2008 2:18:18 PM
Where is California Senator Diane Fienstein?
Posted by: SFshawn | Sep 29, 2008 2:23:39 PM
Leland, why do you hate farm animals?
Posted by: crispy | Sep 29, 2008 2:26:24 PM
Absolutely wonderful statement. Thank you, Sergey! Now, how about a donation to No on 8? Ellen, are you still listening? Maybe you could link to Sergey's blog post on your blog!
P.S. No on 8 ads are up and running. I have seen them on The Daily Show and Colbert in Los Angeles, as well as on the big 3 networks. Since our side is being out-fundraised by the religious bigots behind the Yes on 8 campaign, though, their ads are currently more prominent. Upset about that? Make a donation here now: http://www.noonprop8.com
Posted by: SHOWMETHEMONEY | Sep 29, 2008 2:39:13 PM
Ads are everywhere, open your eyes. And at least Google is doing something. You can't change the world overnight and the gay community isn't going to suddenly be widely accepted, so let's be thankful for receiving what we have and look forward to more givings in weeks, months and years to come. In the meantime, ask yourself what have you done for your community to raise awareness. Ask yourself why you want someone to stand up for you instead of you standing up for yourself.
Posted by: JAYDUB | Sep 29, 2008 3:02:58 PM
Eric, the No on 8 ads are running all over the Los Angeles market. I'm guessing you might be in the Bay area where I'm not what media was bought.
If you need to see the ad, it's on this site and it's also on mine.
http://iamatvjunkie.typepad.com/i_am_a_tv_junkie_a_blog_f/2008/09/sam-and-julia-thoron-say-no-on-californias-prop-8.html
Posted by: Joe Bua | Sep 29, 2008 7:52:43 PM
Thank's Google, We all appreciates it.
Posted by: Dawnell_do | Sep 30, 2008 5:08:02 AM