The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is
donating $1 million to campaigns in four states where voters will be
considering gay marriage this fall.
HRC, the nation's largest gay rights
advocate, is giving $250,000 each to the campaigns in Maine,
Maryland, Minnesota and Washington state.
The donations bring HRC's contributions
on the issue this year to $4.8 million.
“These ballot measures are the
critical issues in November for our community, besides reelecting the
president,” HRC's Michael Cole-Schwartz told POLITICO.COM.
“And part of why they're a big deal
is because our opponents have rightfully had the talking points that
all of these states have banned marriage for same-sex couples [in the
past],” he
said.
Cole-Schwartz noted polling that
currently favors gay marriage supporters.
“This is the year where we really
think that we have the opportunity to be the victors,” he said.
“We want to stand up and be leaders … and spur more investments
in these campaigns as well.”
HRC this year lobbied heavily for
passage of gay marriage laws in Maryland, Washington and New York.