Major LGBT advocacy groups are making large donations toward defending same-sex marriage rights in Maine amid a looming November referendum.The Human Rights Campaign this week sent a $50,000 check to the effort's organizers. HRC previously made a cash donation of $25,000, according to the state's campaign finance reports, so the group's total cash donations total $75,000.
Marty Rouse, HRC's national field director, delivered the check in person Wednesday to activists in Maine. He said HRC has committed to donating at least another $50,000.
"Any money that's invested early is worth more than [money] invested late," he said. "Most campaigns see a large influx of money at the very end, but it's harder to raise that early money. So, we know that the money that we're delivering today and the money that we delivered is really helping them build the campaign that is going to win."
Trevor Thomas, an HRC spokesperson, said his organization also has staff in Maine, bringing HRC's in-kind contributions to the Maine campaign so far to $50,000.
Wow- this is great news and makes our absolutely beautiful sunny day today even brighter!
Mark Sullivan, spokesperson for the "No on 1" campaign, said activists welcomed the support from HRC and Equality California.
"We're v ery pleased that most of our donations continue to come from people who live and work here in Maine," he said. "These are people who understand that marriage equality strengthens and protects children and honors commitment and, ultimately, exemplifies Maine's core values of fairness and equality."
Sullivan noted Maine campaign finance reports indicate that supporters of the "people's veto" have already received $250,000 in out-of-state funding from anti-gay groups such as the National Organization for Marriage. He said out-of-state donors are expected to contribute millions of dollars over the course of the campaign.
Stand for Marriage Maine, the group supporting the referendum, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on recent donations pledged to the "No on 1" campaign.
We're "all in this together"... let's show SFMM what that really means!
More below the fold.
Rouse said any effort from HRC to draw more attention to the Maine battle is helpful because winning the fight is crucial."Anything that HRC can do to raise the profile of this campaign throughout the country is an important thing to do," he said. "If there's any person that's interested in LGBT issues across our country that is interested in making a difference, they need to come to Maine."
Rouse urged supporters of same-sex marriage "to drop what they're doing and spend at least a week in Maine" in September or October to help activists protect the marriage law.
The very NICEST (imo) time to visit Maine... pack a sweater and bring a camera! :)
Click on the link I provided for a fabulous 40 page brochure entitled "Gay Maine: GLBT Travel and Relocation Guide", which is chock FULL of info and websites.
I am just so excited; this is such wonderful news! Yippee!
Here's a link to a gazillion lgbt-friendly businesses here in Maine- Stephen Colbert had it right on the nose, when he asked Rep. Pingree to rate Maine's gayness "on a scale of 1 to Maine"!
Juan Ahonen-Jover, co-founder of eQualityGiving, which helps guide money to LGBT causes and candidates, said he hoped the donations from HRC and Equality California would encourage others to contribute to the Maine campaign."I believe that Maine right now is our top priority in the movement because of the implications that it has," he said. "It's a vote specifically and clearly on marriage and [there are] different demographics than there were in California, so therefore we can clearly win this vote."
Ahonen-Jover said he hopes donors will contribute to the campaign even though they may be "a little bit tired" from contributing to political campaigns in 2008.
"This is a battle that is relatively not very expensive, relatively speaking," he said. "It's a $4 to $5 million battle compared to [the $83 million that Prop 8 supporters and] our side [spent] in California."
Let's do this thing! Please Donate To No On 1/ Protect Maine Equality
August 14, 2009Protect marriage in Maine!
A victory in Maine is essential for victory in California. We are all connected so we need to continue the national momentum toward marriage equality.
Dear EQCA Member,
The same people who ran the right-wing effort to take away our rights here in California have a new target: Maine, which will be voting in less than 80 days on whether or not to protect marriage equality.
Frank Schubert, who ran the Yes on Prop 8 campaign, the National Organization for Marriage, producers of the "Gathering Storm" video, and Focus on the Family, have banded together to overturn the right of same-sex couples to marry in Maine.
This group of extremists have raised more than $340,000, more than twice the amount raised by NO on 1 / Protect Maine Equality.
A victory in Maine is essential for victory in California. We are all connected so we need to continue the national momentum toward marriage equality.
Everyone deserves the right to marry the person they love. Please, make a donation now so same-sex couples in Maine can retain their right to marry.
In solidarity,
Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California
And send an e-mail while you're at it: attorney.general@po.state.ct.us
Just a quick note will do to urge the AG to join Massachusetts in suing the feds over the unconstitutional DOMA.
Thank you.
(Some background from Lurleen): The Hartford Courant recently summed up the situation:
A national grassroots campaign is urging Connecticut's attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, to join Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and sue the U.S. government over the discriminatory and blighted Defense of Marriage Act.More on the case from Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders here.Better known as DOMA, the nearly 13-year-old federal law that denies married same-sex couples federal marriage benefits, according to Defend the Law. That Massachusetts-based organization, founded by a Boston College lage law student, is asking Connecticut residents to contact the attorney general between Aug. 10 and 14 to urge him to file suit, and protect marriage equality in the state.
Please join the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Basic Rights Oregon (BRO) For a weekend of intimate events in Portland,featuring Kate Kendell, Esq., NCLR Executive Director and Jeana Frazzini, BRO Executive Director
The State of Our Unions: LGBT Legal & Policy Briefing Saturday, September 12, 2009 3:00 pm â€" 5:00 pm
Flying Cat Coffee Company 3041 SE Division Portland, Oregon
The legal landscape for LGBT people is ever-changing, and this year, that has proved to be especially true! With new victories and defeats occurring at a faster pace than ever, it’s hard to keep track of where our struggle for justice stands, and how and where our relationshipsere our relationships are protected. Join us for a presentation and discussion on the latest legal and policy issues affecting the LGBT community, including an update on moving forward with marriage equality in Oregon and other states and federal legislation and litigation. There is no cost to attend. No RSVP necessary.
A Social for Social Justice: Benefit Party with NCLR and BRO Sunday, September 13, 2009 3:00 pm â€" 5:00 pm
Nostrana Restaurant With award-winning Chef Cathy Whims 1401 SE Morrison Street Portland, Oregon So much has happened over this past year â€" we hope you can join us for a fun and intimate afternoon to catch up with NCLR and BRO and find out more about our current work and what lies ahead in the fight for our LGBT civil and human rights. Suggested Donation: $25, payable at the door. Please RSVP by September 4th to Dena Zaldúa-Hilkene at dzalduahilkene@nclrights.org with subject line “NCLR Portland Event†or call 415.365.1303. Reservations will be held at the door.
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