May 3, 2014 / 16:05 pm

After the resignation of a Silicon Valley CEO following an uproar over his defense of marriage, two firms are providing free legal analysis to anyone suffering at work for opposing a redefinition of marriage.

Brendan Eich resigned as head of Mozilla Corporation April 3. He had been appointed one week earlier, and quickly came under criticism from advocates of same-sex "marriage" because of his $1,000 donation to California's Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative that recognized marriage in the state as the union of one man and one woman.

Citing an inability to be an effective leader under the circumstances, Eich chose to resign. He had written that "I am committed to ensuring that Mozilla is, and will remain, a place that includes and supports everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, age, race, ethnicity, economic status or religion."

Alliance Defending Freedom and the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund announced May 1 they would offer free legal analysis for anyone who has lost their employment or suffered job-related consequences because of their support for protecting marriage.

"People who exercise their First Amendment freedoms should not be bullied into silence and forced out of their livelihood," commented Joseph Infranco, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom.

"We will consider representing Californians or citizens in other states who have suffered job consequences for their support of marriage through the most American of activities: participating in the political process – a legal activity that is not disruptive to the mission of the employer."

Charles LiMandri, president of the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, added that "California employers should not give in to a handful of intolerant activists who would seek to blacklist their fellow Americans for doing nothing more than exercise their constitutionally protected freedom to support various causes."

"No employer should be allowed to ignore their employees' First Amendment freedoms or their employees' freedoms under state law."