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(CNSNews.com) -- A number of U.S. multinational companies, including Coca-Cola, IBM, and Citi, have signed onto an open letter that calls on the British Government to legalize homosexual "marriage" in Northern Ireland. The companies claim this is necessary "to attract the best talent to Northern Ireland" and because the multinationals want LGBT employees "to be themselves."

The open letter was created by Amnesty International and it is headlined "Businesses for Love Equality," and has the Twitter hashtag #Businesses4LoveEquality.

The letter reads, "We, the undersigned write to express our support for the extension of civil marriage in Northern Ireland. As employers we encourage and welcome diversity and inclusion in our workforce and recognise the rights of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender employees to be themselves and to live and work, free from discrimination, prejudice or exclusion.

(Screenshot: Love Equality website.)

"A diverse, outward-looking and inclusive society is essential to create a vibrant and competitive economy and a prosperous future for Northern Ireland. To achieve that goal, we believe our people should have equal access to the same rights, entitlements, responsibilities and freedoms enjoyed elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

"As employers, striving to attract the best talent to Northern Ireland and to retain the skilled employees we already have, extending equal civil marriage in Northern Ireland makes sense to us.

"Equality contributes to an environment of creativity and excellence where our LGBT staff feel able to bring their whole selves to the workplace and where their relationships will be respected."

(Screenshot: Amnesty International)

Some of the U.S.-based multinationals that signed the letter include Coca-Cola, IBM, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Citi, Allstate Northern Ireland, Santander Bank, and Baker McKenzie.

Petre Sandru, country manager of Coca-Cola in Ireland. (Linked-In.)

Petre Sandru, the country manager at Coca-Cola Ireland, said of the company's support for homosexual marriage in Northern Ireland, "As one of the world’s most inclusive brands, Coca-Cola celebrates diversity, inclusion and equality. This commitment not only manifests itself in our advertisements, but also in our daily operations."

"At Coca-Cola, we know that creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, ability or socio-economic background, is key to driving businesses forward. We also believe that everyone has the right to be themselves both outside and inside the workplace, which is why we support this important initiative."

Leigh Meyer, managing director of Citi Belfast, said, "Marriage Equality is an important right that we need to secure for all in Northern Ireland. I am proud that we in Citi Belfast are at the forefront of these collective efforts to ensure that it is approved and respected in our increasingly diverse and inclusive community. As one of the largest employers in Northern Ireland we want to make our company as attractive as possible to every single part of the population, to give people a reason to want to work for us and to work with us. Citi enables progress, mobility, and inclusion for our LGBT employees and clients."

John O'Doherty is the director of The Rainbow Project, which is lobbying for the legalization of homosexual "marriage" in Northern Ireland through the Love Equality consortium. Commenting on the multinational companies' support, he said, "There is a sound economic argument for marriage equality. Equality, diversity and inclusion contribute to a happy and productive workforce and can help in attracting global talent to Northern Ireland."

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"However, without full legal recognition of same-sex marriages retaining and attracting talent can be difficult," said O'Doherty. "The brain drain from Northern Ireland is a recognised fact and it is important that we reflect upon all of its causes, not least of all the fact that Northern Ireland remains the only part of these Islands not to recognise equal marriage."