Las Vegas is a top tourist destination for the gay and lesbian community, and Harrah’s Entertainment wants to help make sure it stays that way.

When Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons vetoed Senate Bill 283, which allowed domestic partnerships that gave unmarried gay and straight couples many of the same rights as married couples, Harrah’s made it a point to organize enough support to override that veto.

The company held a celebration in June after lawmakers overrode the governor’s veto to recognize team members as well as community partners like Gary Peck of the American Civil Liberties Union, Nevada Senator David Parks, Juliana Ornsby of the Nevada Women’s Lobby, Jan Gilbert of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and Jan Jones, Harrah’s senior vice president.

Jones said it was necessary for the company to support the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community on this issue because the company also targets this community as customers.

“To take a position of we want your money but we don’t believe in your rights is just something that is entirely inappropriate from our perspective,” Jones said. “It was a business imperative, as well as the right thing to do, which makes it an easy decision.”

The efforts extended from Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman down to the front line employees, Jones said. The company has a reputation of being a strong supporter of equal rights for the GLBT community, and was honored in 2008 as a top place to work in for the GLBT community by the Human Rights Campaign.