Several big game industry players have joined a collation of businesses to formally oppose the Defense of Marriage Act, a United States federal law that attempts to define marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. As it stands the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is currently the largest obstacle for gay marriage in the United States.
EA, Microsoft, and Zynga join the likes of Starbucks and Viacom in the coalition, which hopes to persuade the U.S.’s Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to find parts of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. The companies claim that, among other things, DOMA is discriminatory and creates issues with taxes for their employees.
“DOMA presents a number of problems for businesses like EA, as it creates regulatory, tax, and discrimination complications for employers, and that’s why we’re standing against it,” wrote EA on its site. “The underlying lawsuit impacts all employers no matter how big or small, and no matter the industry, and we encourage other business to join these efforts.”
This hasn’t been the first time that EA has publically sided with the LGBT community. The publishers supported LGBT month, and marched in both the Seattle and San Francisco Pride parades.
The full amicus brief for the case, with all supporting parties listed, can be found here.
this is a great thing. equal rights should not even be a topic today. it should be a given. its a human right and offers security for your loved ones. to see the gaming community stand up for that makes me happy to be a gaymer. theres so much homophobia in the gaming community im happy these big developers stand up for whats right. so many developers are gay and lesbian and this is a great way to support and protect them