Apple joins Prop. 8 marriage fight

CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Apple Inc. announced Friday it is contributing $100,000 to the campaign against California's Proposition 8, which would outlaw same-sex marriage in the state.

In a statement posted on its Web site, the company, based in Cupertino, Calif., called marriage a fundamental right.

"Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees' same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person's fundamental rights -- including the right to marry -- should not be affected by their sexual orientation," the statement said.

With the political donation and the statement, Apple joins Google in opposing Proposition 8, which would amend the California constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Google announced last month it would oppose the ballot initiative.

Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page are said to have donated $140,000 between them to the No on Proposition 8 campaign, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.