The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is
donating another $1 million to four gay marriage campaigns.
HRC, the nation's largest gay rights
advocate, announced the commitment on Friday.
The group will split $950,000 “fairly
evenly” between the four states, an HRC spokesman said.
Maine, which is looking to become the
first state to legalize gay nuptials at the ballot box, will receive
$225,000. Organizers in Washington state, where Referendum 74 seeks
to uphold a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers, will also receive
$225,000.
In Maryland, two groups fighting for
passage of Question 6, which would uphold a marriage equality law
approved by lawmakers, will evenly split $300,000. Marylanders for
Marriage Equality and the NAACP Maryland Marriage PAC will each
receive $150,000.
And HRC will direct $200,000 to
Minnesota's campaign to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment
which would define marriage as a heterosexual union. Opponents of
gay nuptials claim the amendment is necessary to ensure marriage
equality is not legalized through the courts or the Legislature.
“Our adversaries have bragged that
marriage equality has never won at the ballot box,” HRC President
Chad Griffin said in a statement. “This November, we will take
that talking point away once and for all. In 2012, fair-minded
Americans – and particularly residents of Maine, Maryland,
Minnesota and Washington – will support their LGBT friends, family
members and coworkers.”
HRC has given $4.4 million to marriage
initiatives during this election cycle.