Washington, D.C. (02/27/13) – The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) and 277 other organizations, businesses, cities, and employers have submitted an “amicus” brief in the Supreme Court today to advise the Court in the landmark case United States v. Windsor, which will review the ruling by a court of appeals that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.
“When the DOMA was signed into law in 1996, the legislation silenced the rights of 16 million Americans, but also an important subset of almost 1.4 million LGBT-owned businesses—Americans who today cannot easily pass the benefits of their industry to their families,” said Justin Nelson, NGLCC President and Co-Founder. “It is the NGLCC’s hope—and this amicus brief’s objective—that the federal government should not hinder an employer from treating all married employees in the same way.”
Signers include many of NGLCC’s corporate partners, local affiliate chambers, and organizational allies. The diverse group of 278 amici include global and local firms of varied sizes, inclusive of both the commercial and municipal arenas. This group is reflective of the diverse nature of the NGLCC’s own affiliate chamber members and certified LGBT-owned businesses, including such distinct industries as mobile technology, engineering, law firms, and marketing agencies.
“DOMA creates two categories of employees which is a strain on both the employer and the employee,” said Chance Mitchell, NGLCC CEO and Co-Founder. “The regulatory and tax benefits are different, and that affects businesses of any size—and it can give any small business employer pause in creating a productive workplace.”
The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments for United States v. Windsor on March 27, 2013.
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CONTACT: Laura Berry, Communications Director, at 1-202-234-9181 or lberry@nglcc.org
About the NGLCC
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the only national not-for-profit advocacy organization dedicated to expanding the economic opportunities and advancements of LGBT business community. With more than 29,000 members, 140 corporate partners, and 51 local, state, and international affiliate chambers, NGLCC is the largest LGBT business development and economic advocacy organization in the world.
