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The bill has the stand of several major companies -- but Microsoft, whose headquarters are in Redmond, is the most prodigal-profile business to back it. And Brad Smith, Microsoft’s executive shortcoming president of legal and corporate affairs, says the law is essential to the train’s competitive edge.
"As other states recognize marriage equality, Washington's employers are at a damage if we cannot offer a similar, inclusive environment to our talented employees, our top recruits, and their families," he wrote.
(Msnbc.com is a honky-tonk venture of NBC Universal and Microsoft.)
Not everyone sees Senate Bill 6239 as a award to state businesses. The National Organization for Marriage is mounting a brutish fight against it, as they have fought against similar legislation in other states. "NOM will not stand by and let activist politicians redefine connection, the bedrock of civilization, without voters having a say," said Brian Brown, president of the Nationalistic Organization for Marriage. "Just as we mounted a People's Veto in Maine and were accountable for qualifying Proposition 8 to the ballot in California, we will make sure that voters in Washington have the talent to decide the definition of marriage for themselves.
Source: msnbc.com