340 Major Businesses Petition the Supreme Court for Marriage Equality

Many people across the political spectrum expect the Supreme Court to strike down state-level marriage bans this June. At Ben & Jerry’s, we’re extremely hopeful that, come June, every American will be free to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Arguments before the Court are set to begin this week, and we’re motivated more than ever to do what we can as a business to frame the issue. Earlier this year, Ben & Jerry’s joined more than 340 businesses petitioning the Supreme Court with an amicus brief that makes the business’ case for marriage equality for all.

For those of you that aren’t lawyers or Latin majors, an amicus brief, literally translating to “friend of the court,” simply means a third party offers a point of view that bears on the case at hand, but does not have standing in the court.

In really plain language, this brief, referred to as James Obergefell, et al., Petitioners, lets the Supreme Court know that the current bans onLGBT marriage in multiple states create burdens on businesses of all kinds.

At Ben & Jerry’s, we believe there are very clear moral and social justice arguments for marriage equality. We’re also acutely aware of the hurdles that legislated discrimination creates for businesses.

Marriage laws varying from state to state create logistical and financial difficulties for employers seeking to recruit and retain talented employees, and to administer benefits, particularly when operating in multiple states.

Joined by businesses including AT&T, Facebook, Microsoft, Nike, Walt Disney and hundreds more, we want the Supreme Court to know that the current patchwork of bans places significant burdens on employers and their employees – disrupting our abilities to conduct business.

At Ben & Jerry’s, we believe there are very clear moral and social justice arguments for marriage equality. We’re also acutely aware of the hurdles that legislated discrimination creates for businesses.

We’re proud to lend our voice to one of the most important civil rights issues of the last several decades. Our Social Mission Activism Manager, Chris Miller, speaks for the company when he says:

All of us at Ben & Jerry's are proud to join the impressive list of corporate leaders standing up for the rights of all our employees to love who they love, regardless of where they live. At Ben & Jerry's, we understand that like ice cream, love comes in all flavors.

Chris Miller

We’re also proud to stand with hundreds of businesses, of all types and sizes, bringing common sense and decency to an issue that has divided our country for far too long. The course of history is clear—justice and equality will always win over discrimination. With this amicus brief, we’re adding one more compelling reason to grant marriage equality for all.

Read the brief here: