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Google Supports Ref. 71 Favoring Same-Sex Unions

By James Tillman

SEATTLE, WA, October 29 (LifeSiteNews.com) -- Representatives of the Google offices in Seattle and Kirkland Washington have sent a letter to the editor of the Seattle-Post Intelligencer supporting Referendum 71, which would grant the same legal rights to same-sex "partners" as to married couples in Washington. 

The letter, signed by the engineering and site directors of each office, says that although Google does not "not generally take positions on social, legal or political issues that arise beyond our normal, day-to-day business," there are nevertheless "issues that are so important and so clear cut that we feel compelled to lend our voice."

"Supporting Referendum 71 is one of those issues."

This statement of support comes as the November 3rd vote on Referendum 71 draws near.  Referendum 71, while not granting the name of marriage to same-sex partnerships, would nevertheless grant to such partnerships the same rights, obligations, and responsibilities that marriages have.

Larry Stickney, campaign manager of Protect Marriage Washington, told LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) that he was "not the least bit surprised" at Google's move.

He continued: "It is well known here in Western Washington that much of the computer industry, whether based in Seattle or elsewhere, has a very left-wing political bent."

This left-wing bent was recently reflected in the $100,000 Microsoft gave to Washington Families Standing Together (WAFST), an organization working to pass Referendum 71.  Microsoft has a long reputation of promoting homosexuality; Microsoft chairman Bill Gates and chief executive Steve Ballmer have each personally given $25,000 to WAFST.

So far during the Referendum 71 race, homosexualist groups have raised vastly more money than pro-family groups.  The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission website reports that WAFST has raised nearly two million dollars, while Protect Marriage Washington and Vote Reject on R-71 have together raised roughly $450,000 dollars, less than a fourth of their opposition's budget.

Larry Stickney told LifeSiteNews that in "politically correct Seattle you simply cannot be a member of the political and business 'in crowds' unless you publicly kiss the ring of the homosexual and abortion lobbies."

However, although "the homosexual agenda may be fashionable with many Seattleites and business elites around the nation," he said, "it is opposed by a majority of Washingtonians who resent being dragged along involuntarily by a social movement that contradicts the wisdom of the ages."

WAFST has also received donations from groups such as Nike, Planned Parenthood, and T-Mobile, as well as donations from liberal institutions such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the homosexualist Human Rights Campaign.

In addition to its public support of homosexualist laws, Google is well known for having previously worked against small conservative organizations through the vast power it exerts over internet content.

YouTube, which is owned by Google, is infamous for censoring pro-life videos.  On June 24th they pulled a video by Life Action Films, featuring a Planned Parenthood employee claiming that the graphic abortion pictures used by pro-lifers are "not real."  On July 10th, they removed a video showing Planned Parenthood failing to report what would be a statutory rape under Alabama state law.  There several are other cases of such censorship.

Google also opposed Proposition 8 in California, a referendum to protect California marriages as the union of one man and one woman.  Sergey Brin, a co-founder of Google, wrote that "it is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8."

He continued: "We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8 -- we should not eliminate anyone's fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love."

Google has also been sued for refusing to allow pro-life advertisements regarding abortion that contain religious content. Google settled out of court.

See related LifeSiteNews.com stories:

YouTube Yanks another Pro-Life Exposé Video
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09072109.html

YouTube Yanks Video Exposing Obama's Abortion Extremism
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/sep/08091912.html

Google to be Sued for Anti-Christian Discrimination for Refusing Advertising
"http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/apr/08040806.html

Washington State Referendum Challenges Expanded Same-Sex Partner Privileges
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/may/09050508.html

Voter Referenda on Same-Sex "Marriage" on Nov. Ballot in Washington and Maine
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/sep/09090304.html

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