WASHINGTON, D.C.—June —, 2015—The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the business voice of the LGBT community, is elated by the Supreme Court’s ruling today for marriage equality across America; it is a momentous win for freedom, equality, and inclusion.
The justices have affirmed what a bipartisan majority of Americans have come to understand: the freedom to marry is a constitutional right that is guaranteed to all Americans.
“While recognizing this as a victory, NGLCC and its 42 affiliate chambers across the country understand that the LGBT movement must harness this momentum to secure greater equality, especially nondiscrimination protections for LGBT Americans,” says Justin Nelson, Co-Founder and President, NGLCC. “It’s unacceptable that hardworking LGBT business owners still be discriminated against in corporate and government supply chains and that LGBT people can still be fired from their jobs in 28 states, evicted from their homes, or denied service in restaurants and shops simply for being who they are.”
NGLCC and nearly 400 corporations and business organizations presented the pro-business case for marriage equality in an amicus brief filed with the court in March.
The brief argues that the court should legalize marriage equality. It states: “Employees with partners of the same sex should be permitted to marry if they so choose, and then should be treated identically to their married heterosexual counterparts. State laws that require otherwise impose a significant burden on us and harm our ability to attract and retain the best employees. Such laws force businesses to uphold discriminatory laws that run counter to important corporate values. In the end, economic growth suffers.”
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The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is the business voice of the LGBT community and is the largest global not-for-profit advocacy organization specifically dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and advancements for LGBT people. NGLCC is the exclusive certification body for LGBT-owned businesses. www.nglcc.org
MEDIA CONTACT:
Adam Shapiro
202-427-3603
