The number of contributors in 2012 who
gave in support of gay marriage dwarfed donors who opposed it.
According to a report released
Wednesday by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest
gay rights advocate, supporters outnumbered opponents by a 13-1
margin.
Approximately 133,000 contributors gave
to campaigns in the four states where the issue was on the ballot.
Campaigns working against marriage equality attracted an estimated
10,500 donors, HRC
reported.
Maine on November 6 became the first
state to legalize gay nuptials at the ballot box, while Minnesota
became the first to reject an effort to ban such unions. Washington
state and Maryland voters upheld marriage laws approved by lawmakers.
Proponents raised more than $34 million
in the four states, mostly from small donors.
Opponents relied heavily on the
contributions of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the
Catholic Church and its affiliate the Knights of Columbus, which
combined contributed nearly two-thirds ($8 million) of the $12
million raised.
(Related: First
gay couples marry in Washington.)