Major US corporations urged to legalize same-sex marriage across the country. Apple, Google and Microsoft are sent to the Supreme Court requesting "to make marriage equality a reality for all Americans", reports Reuters, citing the Ministry of Justice.
Total appeal was signed by 370 leading US companies. Together with Apple, Google and Microsoft have done such giants as Facebook and Adobe, Cisco, eBay, Electronic Arts, Intel, Oracle, Twitter, Zynga. Among the signatories were not only the company, related to computers and the Internet, but also Citigroup, Johnson & Johnson, Goldman Sachs, Nike, CBS Corp., Starbucks and Disney
In January, the US Supreme Court after the discussion, which lasted two and a half hours, took up the claims of several homosexual couples from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, combining them into one case. The plaintiffs are unconstitutional in their states continued ban on the formalization of gay and lesbian relationships.
The hearings will begin in April. A decision is expected in late June. It is either legalize same-sex unions throughout the United States, or to maintain the current system under which States shall settle the question yourself.
To date, same-sex unions are allowed in 22 states and the District of Columbia. At the end of last year in Utah allowed gay marriage, but two weeks later banned again: local authorities have demanded to suspend the registration of homosexual couples to review their appeal against the judgment.
On a day when the court allowed the local representatives of different sexual orientation to legalize their relationship and become official spouses, to the office of the clerk of the district in the state capital - Salt Lake City - for a license to marry same-sex couples have come hundreds.
In December, it was reported that a bill to protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Alabama called in honor of the Executive Director of Apple Tim Cook.Initiators appreciated the contribution of a businessman in the struggle for equality of employees: Cook strongly supports the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender.
In November last year, Tim Cook spoke out in support of the law banning employment discrimination against members of the LGBT community. As a result, the US Senate voted for the bill prohibiting lay off employees because of their sexual orientation, as well as to deny gays and lesbians in employment. Cook welcomed the decision .