The Human Rights Campaign announced that 173 businesses and over 20,000 supporters signed an open letter calling on the U.S. Senate to pass the Respect for Marriage act. The Walt Disney Company was one of the businesses that signed the letter in support of the bill nationally to codify federal marriage equality by guaranteeing the federal rights, benefits, and obligations of marriages in the federal code; repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA); and affirm that all states recognize public acts, records, and proceedings. The letter was delivered to every Senator.
The letter states that the undersigned companies and individuals are in support of Marriage Equality in 2015. They go on to say that “a patchwork of inconsistent and discriminatory state marriage laws goes against our company values and makes it harder for us to do business and to recruit and retain top talent.”
Last week, the bill passed the House 267-157, garnering 47 Republican votes — proving that support for marriage equality is widespread and bipartisan. The bill was in response to the Supreme Court recently striking down Roe v. Wade and, according to Reuters, “in a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas said the court should also reconsider its past rulings that guaranteed access to contraception and the 2015 right to gay marriage because they relied on the same legal arguments as Roe.”
Interestingly, the House bill says that “states could still restrict gay marriage if the Supreme Court overturns its prior ruling. But such states would be required to recognize marriages that occurred in states where they remain legal.”
“The rights and freedoms that we have come to cherish will vanish into a cloud of radical ideology and dubious legal reasoning,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, who sponsored the bill.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, we are so close to codifying marriage equality as the law of our land—so close to ensuring that every family will have the freedom to love whom they love,” said Joni Madison, Human Rights Campaign Interim President. “When we rally our voices collectively, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. I celebrate the thousands of people who have picked up the phone or written a letter to their Senator. I thank the 173 businesses who have taken a stand and joined the fight for LGBTQ+ equality on behalf of their employees and customers, for whom this is entirely personal. When workplaces see and celebrate all families, including their LGBTQ+ talent, they ensure everyone can bring their full selves to work and have an opportunity to thrive. But the fight isn’t over yet; this victory is far from guaranteed; now we must come and demand that the Respect for Marriage Act is passed and signed into law.”
In part, the letter states, “Fairness, equal treatment, and opportunity are central to our corporate values because we care about our employees and the customers we serve. Americans from all walks of life, across demographics, geographies, and party lines agree that loving, committed couples have the right to be respected and protected under the law.”
“[This bill] will help to ensure marriage equality, eliminate confusion for employers and enable us to retain and attract talent. No person, including same-sex couples and interracial couples protected by this bill, should fear their marriage will not be recognized by the federal government or their employment benefits threatened.”
“Inclusive business practices improve our bottom lines and lead to more productive and engaged employees, increased customer satisfaction, and, ultimately, improved competitiveness and financial performance.”
According to Gallup, 71% of Americans support marriage for same-sex couples. 55% of Republicans support same-sex marriage, along with 83% of Democrats and 73% of Independents. The latest survey from PRRI this year found that support for marriage equality has increased by 14 percentage points since 2014 (54%). Today, majorities of most religious groups favor marriage equality. White evangelical Protestants (35%) and Latter-day Saints (46%) remain the only major religious groups with less than majority support for marriage equality. According to the last Census, about 58% (568,000) of couples in the nation’s 980,000 same-sex households were married and about 42% were unmarried partners.
Here is the letter in its entirety:
