Google Defends Equality: Opposes California's Proposition 8

by Rhonda J Mangus | September 28, 2008 at 08:41 pm

427 views | 18 Recommendations | 20 comments

Internet giant Google has announced that it opposes California's Proposition 8 and hopes California voters will vote NO on Proposition 8. The proposition will eliminate the rights of same-sex couples to marry in California.

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.

Additional NowPublic stories related to California's Proposition 8 here and here.

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panzerlawyer

at 20:46 on September 28th, 2008

They should legalize all immoral behavior.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 20:54 on September 28th, 2008

panzerlawyer, thank you for commenting. I am sorry to learn that you feel this way. Nevertheless, you do have a right to your opinions. Thanks again.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 22:37 on September 28th, 2008

Hi zichi! Thank you for reading, commenting, and the Flag. It is apparently unusual for Google to take a public position such as this.

The following information is from wikipedia

The California state elections, November 2008 will be held on November 4, 2008 throughout California. Among the elections taking place are those for the office of President of the United States, all the seats of California's delegation to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the State Assembly, and all of the odd-numbered seats of the State Senate. Twelve propositions will also appear on the ballot. Numerous local elections will also take place throughout the state.[1][2]

If you click on "propositions" above, you can read about the "why & how" of propositions on the ballot. It is done in an attempt to amend constitutional and statutory law. In this case, same-sex marriage is currently legal in California. Proposition 8 attempts to eliminate it.

California is well-known for being progressive:).

Amitjha

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 23:06 on September 28th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 23:31 on September 28th, 2008

Amitjha, thank you for reading and for the Flag.

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 23:51 on September 28th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff.

I think Google as a business and institution of sorts should keep a neutral position and let Democracy take its course. No matter what the position of Google or the Church and or other institutions may be, this is a Vote and needs to be kept open and to each and every once own believe. Debates are good and open even public once should be promoted By Google, yet not the expression of a position. Even the Church that is opposed to same sex Marriages should not express a position rather promote a debate and let all decide freely with out manipulations if possible.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 23:08 on September 29th, 2008

Hi Paschen! Thank you for reading, commenting, and the Flag. However, I do not agree that any business institution should take a neutral position on the issue of gay rights, and for the same reasons as stated by Google. Too, I don't see taking a position on an issue as "manipulation" rather, in and of itself, encouraging and/or promoting discussion.

Only 13 states in the United States have policies that protect against both sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment, 7 states based on sexual orientation only, and 15 other states have laws that have been interpreted to protect trans-gender individuals in employment. In those states that do not have appropriate laws in place to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation, an individual can be fired from his/her livelihood based on sexual orientation -- "democracy" taking its course???

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a proposed US Federal Law, semi-threatened to be vetoed by President Bush, is currently being considered to protect this group of people against discrimination in the workplace. You can read more at wikipedia here.

The "church" (religion) is another topic completely -- one I would like to avoid at the moment, if you don't mind:).

Paschen

at 02:13 on September 30th, 2008

I personally have a bad feeling about it though, I do not like it either when a Pastor tells his congregation what they should vote for Right or left... Nor do I like it when A business tell me to be pro or contra something, I can make up my own mind and do not like to be bullied nor feel pressured by any one. Many people are easily intimidated by such big Companies and or pressured same for the church as for Google stay out of it.

I am not against Googles point of view, It is more a question of principles then any thing else.

Sorry I broth up the Church again, Just could not think of a better example at the moment.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 02:20 on September 30th, 2008

Hi Paschen. I understand how you feel. I don't think anyone likes it when they feel they are being influenced, bullied or pressured. I don't think it is the case here however that Google is attempting to influence, bully, or pressure in anyway. It has simply taken a public and well-stated position on a very important issue in this Country. It has a right to do so, and I commend them for it.

No need to apologize for bringing up the church, I would just re-state what I said earlier:)

Paschen

at 02:56 on September 30th, 2008

Agreed Rhonda. I am just worried that this may extend to something bad.

I personally agree with Googles statement, that is not the problem, I worry about the principle of it, being a business and a big one as well.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 03:04 on September 30th, 2008

I'm not sure that I am following you, Paschen. What do you mean, "...that this may extend to something bad."?

Paschen

at 03:18 on September 30th, 2008

As a business or institutions once has a moral and ethical obligation to stay neutral on social or civil as well as democratic issues. The power of such institutions is remarkable and could be used in a bad way, why I think that those need to follow the law of the land and remain neutral in all democratic issues, such institutions and their power could be used to no good.

rumana husain

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:06 on September 29th, 2008

Rhonda J Mangus, I like this story. It's good stuff. interesting to know that google takes such a strong stand against a social issue. wish all companies would take stand against other serious local/regional/global issues of a social and political nature.