Travel site Expedia.com on Tuesday
announced it would back Referendum 74, the Washington state ballot
measure which if approved would uphold a gay marriage law enacted by
lawmakers.
“As the world's largest online travel
company – with operations in well over 30 countries – we know
firsthand that the world is a diverse place. Much like our
customers, clients, partners, and suppliers, our employees represent
a multitude of locations, cultures and experiences,” said Expedia
President and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi in a statement released by
Washington United for Marriage.
“We strive to actively promote
equality in our workplace and are committed to treating one another
with respect and dignity. … Today, we add our voice to the topic of
marriage equality. We thoughtfully engage in this public discussion
because it has significant impact on our employees, customers, and
partners, all with whom we interact daily. Supporting the
legislation recently passed in Washington State – which provides
same-sex couples with the same right to civil marriage that opposite
sex couples already enjoy – is a natural extension of our ongoing
commitment to the LGBT community.”
Zach Silk, campaign manager for
Washington United for Marriage, welcomed Expedia's endorsement.
“We are so pleased to add Expedia to
our ever-expanding list of Washington-based corporate supporters,”
said
Silk. “Like other corporate leaders, Dara Khosrowshahi
understands that treating all families fairly and allowing all loving
couples the freedom to marry is a core value that builds strong
communities and strong businesses. When most people think travel,
they think Expedia and we couldn't be more excited to have them join
our effort to Approve Referendum 74.”
The Bellevue-based online travel
company said more than 2,270 of its 8,900 employees live and work in
Washington.
Other Washington-based companies
supporting marriage equality include T-Mobile USA, Starbucks,
Microsoft and Amazon. Last month, Amazon
CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie gave $2.5 million to the
effort.
(Related: Microsoft's
Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer support Washington gay marriage.)