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Game Companies Sign On To Oppose DOMA

Electronic Arts, Zynga, and Microsoft have signed on to a brief urging the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to find the law, which outlaws gay marriage, unconstitutional.

The 9th Circuit is currently hearing an appeal to an earlier decision (Golinski vs. the U.S. Office of Personal Management), which found portions of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. In the original case, Karen Golinski won a settlement awarding her employee federal health benefits to her wife. The case is being appealed by a Republican-led group called BLAG (Bi-Partisan Legal Advisory Group).

The game companies involved have signed an amicus brief (a non-binding statement that is admissible based on the court's discretion) that supports the original ruling. Electronic Arts released a statement regarding the decision on its website:

Electronic Arts has joined with dozens of leading US employers in signing an amicus brief that opposes the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and urges the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to find portions of the Act unconstitutional.

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. 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.

Other major technology and entertainment companies that have signed on to the brief include Google, eBay, Viacom, and CBS.

Source: Electronic Arts

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Comments
  • It's sad this is even a thing. That we still need to fight for basic equality in this Country is disgusting. I am a Disabled Vet and I hate that I fought and sacrificed only to return to a Country of selfish bullies led only by greed.
  • Good stuff, but I can't help thinking good everything like this EA is doing is to gain back a good reputation with people/consumers.
  • Why would the court care in the least what a video game company thinks about marriage law?
  • Wow.  And the a**hole of the year award goes to...

    (hint: it's not me this time...)

  • Gay or straight, everyone has the right to suffer marriage
  • I just wish these companies would keep their noses out of politics, damn it. Unless it involves financials, of course. Personally, I am against Gay Marriage. Not because of my religious beliefs, because there has to be a separation of Church and State, but because of Biology. Look at it this way, a female electrical socket and another female electrical socket don't go together. Neither does a male plug with another male plug. The only way for an electric current to pass through is by male plug and female socket. If you catch my drift.
  • Huh, Sr Republican (Sr Troll's) posts were removed, along with a huge number of others. That's unfortunate. Even my really nice post pointing out biblical nonsense that "incest is okay (Adam, Eve, their sons), but homosexuality is wrong" is gone. That was a good post.
  • i really don't know why this political issue has pushed it's way to gaming, just let people do what makes them happy damn it, don't get gaming involved.
  • I hope more people and companys join for the cause awesome

  • this is complete garbage! At least I know now not to buy another EA game!
  • I believe in gay marriage because its a humans right to do whatever they wish I disagree with abortion not because of religious bigotry but because your taking the life of a child that has not even had a chance to experience the world yet thats just a cruel thing to do imo but if you believe in abortion good for you but their is no difference in killing an unborn baby than killing a new born baby or a grown adult but people seem to think there is

    its in human nature to have different opinions and believe what you want to believe as i said humans have the right to do whatever they want no matter how much another human believes that that humans beliefs are wrong but they have the right to do so
  • Humans should do whatever they please, as long as it doesn't harm any fully developed (emerged from the womb) being. Every single person, regardless of anything (skin color, gender, sexual preferences, religion, etc.) deserve the same rights as the majority. People should not let any of these factors serve as an excuse to undermine the rights of an individual.

    As far as this issue goes, I personally was sexually attracted to males much earlier than I was attracted to females. Although now that I am a bit older, as well as tied down a to a beautiful, intelligent, talented woman, I have come to the realization that some people are just naturally attracted to the same gender, myself (well, not so much anymore...) included.

    At the end of the day, it should not matter who a person is attracted to, as long as they can be happy in peace. It doesn't matter whether or not the couple can reproduce, because there are many heterosexual couples out there that choose not to reproduce, including the one that I'm in.

    Love is a powerful force, and those that choose to prevent others from feeling it might as well feel the wrath of the gods, sooner or later.

  • I'm still struggling to figure out why people would support a bill like DOMA for another reason than simple homophobia. The government can't force the churches to practise gay marriage so it's not like this has to be a big deal for the religious right. At that point it's bigotry. Fight for the love, America.

  • I didn't know what DOMA was before this article but when I saw EA I guessed it had to do with not providing employee benefits (I was right!).  I don't blame them though, as looking into it, it does provide a lot of loopholes that could be exploited against businesses.  Get your act together law makers!

  • Well I'm glad, because I can't take gay marriages, and couples.

  • I knew this would provoke a lot of close minded christians (not saying all christians). To me religion is just an easy way out of this "where do we come from jungle" for those who can't find their own way out. If you ask a Christian "If God exists, how come everyone doesn't believe in him" they always have the same answer: "Because God gave us free will". Well then, let people have theirs and stop condemning everyone that doesn't live by your standards to hell. If I were a Christian I really wouldn't think that's the right way to "spread the word of Christ".
  • Good for them.

  • Honestly, my biggest issue with anti-gay rights activists is the argument, "Its an aberration. They can't marry because they wont be able to procreate." Well, in case no one knew, homosexuality isn't a choice. No one chooses ostracism, years of torment, and psychological and physical abuse against them, the idea that a homosexual would think "Oh i cant marry who I'm attracted to, better go find someone i can have a child with instead" is ludicrous at best. That being said, this is a gaming site, not my soap box. Thank you EA, Microsoft, Zynga, and the like on your stance.
  • Deviant life sytles are not a right. Majority of the USA does not want same sex marriage, but hollywood, commies, and old hippies keep trying to cram this down our throats! They can take it to court all they want to, but the people keep voting to keep it out!