Corporations Coming Out Against Defense of Marriage Act

The following companies submitted a brief opposing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in a lawsuit that has made its way through the courts to a Federal Court of Appeals in Massachusetts. The case challenges the denial of federal rights and benefits to lawfully married gay and lesbian couples. The companies point out that DOMA forces them to treat their employees differently based on their sexual orientation, and as a result, the businesses assume an administrative financial burden to correct the inequity.

Companies Opposed To Gay Marriage Ban DOMA:

ABT Associates, Inc. (consulting)

Aetna Inc. (insurance)

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (technology)

Alere Inc. (health care)

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (banking)

Biogen Idec Inc.  (biotechnology)

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MA, Inc. (insurance)

Boston Medical Center Corp. (health care)

Bright Horizons Children’s Centers LLC  (health care)

CBS Corporation (media)

Calvert Investments, Inc. (investments)

Chubb Corporation (insurance)

Communispace Corporation (marketing)

Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (energy)

Diageo North American, Inc. (alcohol distributor)

Eastern Bank Corporation (banking)

Exelon Corporation (energy)

Fitcorp Healthcare Centers, Inc. (fitness)

Gammelgarden, LLC (hospitality)

Google, Inc. (technology)

Integrated Archive Systems, Inc. (technology)

Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, LLC (hospitality)

Levi Strauss & Co.  (clothing)

Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Trust, LLC (investments)

Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (health care)

Massachusetts Envelope Company, Inc. (manufacturer)

Massachusetts Financial Services Company (investments)

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (insurance)

Microsoft Corporation (technology)

National Grid USA, Inc.  (energy)

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (insurance)

New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. (clothing)

NIKE, Inc. (clothing)

The Ogilvy Group, Inc.  (advertising)

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  (pharmaceuticals)

The Parthenon Group, LLC (investments)

Partners HealthCare Systems, Inc. (health care)

Reproductive Science Center of New England (health care)

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (investments)

Starbucks Corporation  (retail)

State Street Bank and Trust Company (banking)

Stonyfield Farm, Inc. (food manufacturer)

Sun Life Financial (US) Services Co., Inc. (financial services)

Time Warner Cable Inc. (media)

Trillium Asset Management Corporation (financial services)

W/S Development Associates LLC (developer)

Xerox Corporation (manufacturer)

Zipcar, Inc. (auto services)

Law and professional firms:

Burns & Levinson LLP

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP

Foley Hoag LLP

Goodwin Proctor LLP

Goulston & Storrs, P.C.

McCarter & English LLP

Nixon Peabody LLP

Parthenon Group LLC

Ropes & Gray LLP

Salera Consulting

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Sullivan & Worcester LLP

Professional, trade and civic organizations:

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

The Boston Foundation

Massachusetts Association of Health Plans

Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, Inc.

The National Fire Protection Association

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

Retailers Association of Massachusetts

 

94% or 470 of the Fortunes 500 companies offer domestic partner benefits to their employees. HRC reports that DOMA prevents any of the over 1,100 federal rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage from being afforded to legally married same-sex couples.  These include Social Security survivor benefits, federal employee health benefits for spouses, protections against spouses losing their homes in cases of severe medical emergencies, the right to sponsor a foreign born partner for immigration, the guarantee of family and medical leave and the ability to file joint tax returns, among many others.  51 percent of voters oppose DOMA while only 34 percent favor it.


Many companies prohibit workplace discrimination against gays and lesbians, even though they are not required by law to do so in most of the United States. Unfortunately many states and the federal government support discriminatory laws targeted at GLBT Americans.

But the workplace is not always a safe place. There are a number of companies and businesses that promote their anti-gay stance. More about them here: http://guydads.blogspot.com/2008/12/anti-gay-companies.html