King and Spalding the law firm that Speaker Boehner has hired (to the tune of $520 an hour) to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, takes great pride in its company diversity, including the value of its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees. Moreover—unlike the US Federal Government—the firm also extends partner benefits to LGBT employees, from their website:
The firm's non-discrimination policy prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Further, domestic partner benefits are offered for same-sex couples.
The firm's website names some of its LGBT associates and partners, and explains the firm's tireless commitment to actively recruiting talent from the LGBT community:
King & Spalding actively recruits LGBT law students and seeks opportunities to partner with LGBT student organizations to help their members successfully navigate the process of moving from law student to lawyer. The firm annually attends Lavender Law, the National LGBT Bar Association’s conference and career fair. Recently, an LGBT Summer Associate received the King & Spalding Diversity Fellowship, which provides $10,000 in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and leadership to candidates from a diverse background.
The firm of King & Spalding happily boasts of their "support" for LGBT events, like, Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia’s annual awards dinner and the “Out on Film” Festival in Atlanta. They also crow about their accolades from the gay rights organization
Human Rights Campaign:
• Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index Rating of 95 out of 100 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011).
Indeed, a search of Human Rights Campaign's website confirms their high rating
(PDF). Human Rights Campaign has called the defense of this law
"shameful."
So, in brief, Speaker Boehner has selected a firm that very clearly recognizes the great benefits that King & Spalding derives from treating all its employees equally.
And Speaker Boehner has tasked this firm with the job of arguing in court that the United States Federal Government should absolutely do no such thing, or bad things will happen.
How ironic. Looks like even the bigots are running out of competent bigots to hire.