Target Corp. files legal brief in support of same-sex marriage

Target Corp. is adding its name to a legal defense of gay marriage, joining other large companies that have taken a stand on same-sex unions.

Target says it signed a court brief backing marriage equality in a pending case. Starbucks, Intel and Apple have publicly backed gay marriage advocates in court cases or ballot issues.

Nearly all of Minnesota's biggest corporations declined to take a position on the 2012 state referendum to ban gay marriage except for General Mills, which opposed the ban. The referendum failed and the state Legislature passed a bill recognizing same-sex marriage in 2013.

The Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/1qUU8DQ ) says the case that Target's brief supports combines legal actions in Wisconsin and Indiana. Federal judges overturned gay marriage bans in both states and state officials appealed.

___

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com