A record number of tech firms are expected to publicly show support for the LGBT community this weekend at San Francisco's annual gay pride parade. Hundreds of Google employees are slated to participate, Apple recently sent a memo encouraging all of its employees to partake in the event, and Facebook told CNBC that it expects over 800 employees to attend. Former congressman Barney Frank, one of the parade's guests of honor, told CNBC that tech companies are smart to support the gay pride parade in today's competitive business environment. Frank said, "If you get a reputation for not being supportive of fair treatment, it is a handicap in your recruitment." Last year's parade, the largest in North America and the second-largest in the world, attracted more than 1.5 million people and another 400,000 viewers through a webcast. At least 15 Silicon Valley tech companies are expected to participate.
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IN-DEPTH
- D.C High School Principal Comes Out as Gay During Pride Day
- Gay Americans Get National Park Service Recognition
- Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney Marries Longtime Partner
SOCIAL
— Ryan Ruggiero, CNBC
