HRC targets Minn. for same-sex marriage

The Human Rights Campaign is donating a total of $150,000 to organizations in Minnesota in an attempt to win same-sex marriage next year in the North Star State.

The Associated Press reported on Saturday that HRC plans to donate $100,000 to WIN Minnesota, a political fund backing Democrat Mark Dayton for governor; $20,000 to the LGBT group OutFront Minnesota; and another $30,000 to state candidates, including Dayton.

HRC President Joe Solmonese was quoted as saying this donation is partly in response to a donation from Target Corp. to a group helping Republican candidate Tom Emmer, who opposes same-sex marriage.

Target’s donation to Emmer inspired consternation among the companies’ LGBT employees and customers.

But Solmonese also reportedly said the donation is in anticipation of advancing same-sex marriage in the state Legislature after the fall election:

“We’ve understood long before the Target situation that Minnesota was poised, as is New York, to be the next state to win marriage equality,” Solmonese said.

He added: “The scope of our work here is certainly going to move beyond the $150,000.”

Current Minnesota Tim Pawlenty (R) has a history of opposing LGBT rights. He announced last year that he wouldn’t seek a third term as governor, leaving the door open for a new governor who supports same-sex marriage.