Several Connecticut companies have joined forces with corporations across the nation to support gay marriage in a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Hartford companies including insurers Aetna and Hartford Financial Services Group joined an amicus, or friend-of-the-court, brief on March 5 urging the justices to overturn the lower court’s rulings allowing for the ban of same-sex marriage in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Michigan.
“As a company, we strive to build a culture that values diversity and cultivates an inclusive work environment,” said Thomas Hambrick, spokesman for The Hartford. “We believe that everyone should be treated equally under the law. Signing on to this brief is the right thing to do for our employees, the LGBT community and our business.”
If the nine Supreme Court justices overrule the lower courts in the Obergefell v. Hodges case, gay marriage would be legal in 41 U.S. states. The ruling is expected in June.
In 2008, Connecticut was the third state ever to approve gay marriage.
“Current laws in states banning same-gender marriage hinder us from being able to attract and retain top talent and make it more cumbersome to conduct operations across the country,” Hambrick said.
A total of 379 companies filed the brief supporting gay marriage.
In addition to Aetna and The Hartford, other Connecticut companies that signed briefs in support of gay marriage include Ridgefield drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Wallingford drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb, Bloomfield insurer Cigna, Fairfield manufacturing conglomerate General Electric, the Greater Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Groton drug maker Pfizer, and the parent of Bristol sports programmer ESPN, the Walt Disney Co.
– Brad Kane
