Google This: Company Says Prop 8 Should be Overturned

We already know that California's Attorney General wants Prop 8 overturned, as well as a coalition of labor leaders and religious leaders. Today, Google let it be known in an amicus brief filed with the California State Supreme Court that it, too, would like to see Proposition 8 go the way of webvan.com.

Hit it, Google:

"Denying employees basic rights isn't right, and it isn't good for businesses," Google wrote in a blog post. "We are committed to preserving fundamental rights for every one of the people who work hard to make Google a success."

The amicus brief itself is available on the Web site of the National Coalition for Lesbian Rights, and also includes Levi Strauss, H5 and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce as signatories (known together as Business Amici).  The brief has some great lines for the Court to chew on:

• "Business Amici wish to emphasize the potential adverse affects for the state as a whole, including the state's businesses, if Proposition 8 is deemed to be valid and California ceases to be seen as a place of opportunity for all, but rather as a place where vulnerable groups may lose fundamental rights by popular vote."
• "Some businesses are also justifiably concerned that if Proposition 8 is applied retroactively, then they may have to engage in undesirable activities expressly targeting their gay employees, which could involve invasion of their privacy rights and a need to seek reimbursement for health benefits provided to same-sex spouses and their children.  Businesses may also have to deal with reduced employee productivity and desire to leave their employment and California is Proposition 8 were to be applied retroactively."
• "Proposition 8 in general, and its retroactive application in particular, do not make good business sense.  The good-sense lesson is not just that confusion and costs will proliferate if Proposition 8 is deemed valid, but also that California's marketplace overflows with creativity and dynamism thanks to the guarantee that everyone is welcome and equal and has the same basic rights."

January is the final month for groups, like the businesses represented here, to submit briefs in support of overturning Proposition 8.  The California State Supreme Court is likely to hear arguments in March.  For the complete amicus brief filed by google, Levi Strauss, H5 and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, click here.