- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- March 2009
- October 2006
- July 2002
America's Leading Gay News Source
Freedom to Marry invests $3 million in campaigns
Freedom to Marry opted out of the Maryland marriage ballot battle earlier this year. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
NEW YORK —Freedom to Marry announced this week that its investment in three statewide ballot battles for same-sex marriage has topped $3 million.
With its most recent $500,000 donation to ballot campaigns advocating for same-sex couples in Maine, Minnesota and Washington, Freedom to Marry says it has reached its initial 2012 goal, and says it will now work to assist in raising an additional $10 million needed by the three campaigns.
Earlier this year, the Washington Blade reported that Freedom to Marry would not be involved in the effort to fight a ballot initiative attacking the new same-sex marriage law in Maryland this year, citing negative polling numbers. More recent polls show majority support for retaining the Maryland law. The group also confronted criticism for its lack of involvement in a ballot battle in North Carolina earlier this year that was lost by advocates against constitutionally barring same-sex marriage.
Tagged with ballot, Freedom to Marry, gay marriage, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, same-sex marriage, Washington
We welcome your thoughtful, respectful comments. Please read our 'Terms of Service' page for more information about community expectations.
Comments from new visitors, flagged users, or those containing questionable language are automatically held for moderation and may not appear immediately.
view print edition
Freedom to Marry needs to invest in Maryland.
[Translate]
I was against the effort in MD to get marriage passed this year. It would have made much more sense to pass civil unions, which would have been approved overwhelmingly and would not have triggered a referendum effort, and then to have gone for marriage in a few years. But now that marriage has passed, I cannot fathom why FTM will not help MD. The poll numbers in MD are better than they are in MN. And those numbers – even in the least favorable polls taken to date – show a win to be an obtainable goal.
On what possible basis can FTM raise $3 million and then shoot for another $10 million without giving any to help a state whose legislature has already passed marriage equality? Especially when MN and WA are doing so much better than expected in fundraising. MN has surpassed $6 million (counting last year and this year) and WA is closing in on $6 million, following their receipt of the Bezos contribution. To say that these 2 states can’t do with just a little less so that MD can get just a little assistance is short-sighted and wrong. I wonder if Paul Singer and the other large donors who are routing their giving through FTM are on board with this approach.
[Translate]
I wrote to Freedom to Marry a few weeks ago just after receiving a request for a donation. I told them I would never give them money for throwing Maryland to the anti-LGBT wolves. The response I got was, “Oh we didn’t abandon Maryland, we’re just getting started. Do you want to do some organizing for us.” When I stopped choking on my dinner. I deleted the email. If they were serious why do we want their help? I will never give them a penny.
[Translate]