Google Launches ‘Legalize Love’ Campaign
Google
After the fallout from Oreo’s rainbow cookie, I thought it would be a while before another big corporation would dare endorse gay rights. Google’s new “Legalize Love” campaign, however, is doing just that.
In typical Google fashion, company officials are dreaming big with their sights trained on legalizing same-sex marriage across the world. Interestingly enough, they aren’t starting in liberal countries. They plan to “focus on places with homophobic cultures” first, says Google’s Mark Palmer-Edgecombe, who announced the initiative at an LGBT business summit in London on Saturday.
Expecting to see some heavy moralizing in their message, I was intrigued to learn that Google’s efforts won’t begin in the political sector. In fact, their mantra appears to be more anti-discrimination than pro-gay marriage.
Singapore, one of Google’s flagship countries for the campaign, has ambitious economic aspirations. Aspirations which, Google believes, should hold its businesses to higher, more egalitarian standards. Palmer-Edgecombe notes that this understanding would force companies to reflect and realize that they “have to treat all people the same, irrespective of their sexual orientation,” to reach their goals and establish themselves as global entities. Social reform should then mimic corporate restructuring. Right?
Of course, countries may not appreciate Google’s meddling, and this could pose problems for the campaign. Despite its considerable influence, Google might meet its match when it comes to one of the most polarizing issues of the modern era. One thing is for sure, however: it’s a lot harder to boycott Google than Oreos.
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