By BTL Staff
Known progressive company, Ben & Jerry's, will join other top corporations in petitioning the Supreme Court to allow LGBT people the right to marry. The New Civil Rights Movement reports that 30 companies have made the decision, sending an amicus brief early this month to the top court, urging the justices to "consider a uniform principle that all couples share in the right to marry."
Many of the companies operate in most, if not all, U.S. states, resulting in "business detriment(s)" that "increase our costs and level of risk." The group goes on to complain that the lack of uniform law on same-sex marriage throughout the country results in "inconsistent policies in the various jurisdictions in which we operate."
The group then states, "Our ability to grow and maintain our businesses by attracting and retaining the best talent is hindered. This patchwork of state laws applicable to same-sex marriage impairs thus our business interests and employer-employee relations. Respectfully, we ask the Court to grant the petition for certiorari and consider a uniform principle that all couples share in the right to marry."
In reaction to the brief's filing, Ben & Jerry's stated, "From an HR point of view, it's plain to see that companies in states that ban same sex marriages may have trouble recruiting folks from other states. From a practical and employee rights perspective, this issue is a big concern to employers in all industries."
Other companies that stand with Ben & Jerry's on the issue include Amazon.com, Target, eBay, General Electric Company and Staples, among many more.
The full brief can be read here.
Ben & Jerry's support follows a long trend of commercial food showing support for or against same-sex marriage. Burger King showed its LGBT support this past summer, while Chick-fil-A is still known for its notorious donations to anti-LGBT organizations.
Recently, Gallo Nero, an Italian restaurant in New York's West Village, raised eyebrows with its "Big STRAIGHT Ice Cream" campaign, presumably in reaction to a nearby store called "Big Gay Ice Cream." When called for response by Gothamist, a manager for the Italian eatery responded "What's the issue? We can call our ice cream whatever we want. They have their own way; we have our own way."
