US Companies Ask Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to Veto Anti-Gay Law

Companies such as Apple, Marriot and American Airlines have come together to ask Arizona's Governor, Jan Brewer, to veto the controversial SB-162 law initiative, approved last Thursday, a measure backed by republicans that allows individuals and businesses to refuse service to homosexual people and other groups based on their religious beliefs.

The initiative, approved last week, has not been welcomed by other states in the United States, especially by the representatives of large business and technology firms who have expressed their worry to the Arizona's Governor, as many have described the law as promoting discrimination.

According to a report published by Business Week, technology giant Apple was the first large company to take action and announce that the controversial SB-162 law might force large firms to relocate outside of Arizona, which is in an economic pothole which might deepen if this project isn't dismissed.

On his part, Steve Hart, VP of Marriot International Inc. said in a press release that "It is extremely difficult for us to sell Arizona as a destination in the context of the negative attention that suggest that certain travelers or conference goers would not be welcome there, as a legal issue," according to the quoted source.

Some days before, it just so happened that Apple was in contact during the weekend with Arizona's Governor, who it asked to veto the law project approved by republicans.

Last November, Apple chose Arizona as the location to build a sapphire crystal plant in Mesa, a venture that would create 2,000 new jobs in the region, according to a recent article by CNN Money.

Back then, Governor Brewer said that "Apple will have a very positive economic impact for Arizona, and their decision to set up here speaks of the business climate we have been creating during these past four years."

Now, almost three months after this announcement, the relationship between the technology firm and Arizona might be affected if Jan Brewer does not veto the controversial law, which is followed by a complementary law project which will be voted on in the state's House of Representatives in the upcoming days.