Corporate Call for Change in Marriage Equality Case

Arguing that the federal Defense of Marriage Act imposes serious administrative and financial costs on their operations, some of the nation’s largest companies filed a supporting brief with the Supreme Court on Wednesday, urging it to overturn a section of the act that denies federal benefits and recognition to same-sex couples. The brief drew 278 signers, including more than 200 companies — among them giants like Citigroup, Apple, Mars and Alcoa — as well as city governments, law firms and other groups. In statements on Wednesday, many declared their firm opposition to discrimination based on sexual orientation. But the “friend of the court” brief focused more on the burdens imposed by the 1996 law on companies that offer benefits to same-sex spouses.