The Orca’s Thumb

In a rare political move, Apple today officially announced that is is donating $100,000 to California’s No on 8 campaign that seeks to change California’s State Constitution and ban same-sex marriages in the land of Schwarzenegger.

Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. 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. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8. 

To put $100,000 in perspective, that is roughly 335 (16 GB) iPhones. Apple sold 6,892,000 iPhones last quarter.