Efforts to bring same-sex marriage to the Pine Tree State got a boost recently as Mainers United for Marriage successfully reached their goal in a $100,000 matching donation challenge offered by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes (right) and his husband, Sean Eldridge.
The group crossed the $100,000 threshold on Thursday, one day before the June 8 deadline.
“We’re happy with the result—It exceeded our expectations,” says Mainers United for Marriage’s David Farmer, who said more than 1,000 pitching in to hit the magic number, nearly half contributing for the first time.
In February, when marriage-equality supporters successfully garnered nearly 60,000 signatures to get the referendum put on the ballot. Residents will vote on the issue in November.
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On the other side of the fence, the anti-marriage-equality group Protect Marriage Maine is launching a fundraising campaign in Maine churches beginning on Father’s Day. Currently, Mainers United has raised more than ten times the funds that Protect Marriage has. Hopefully that disparity will play out in the voting booth this fall.
QJ201
“Fundraising in Churches”
Time to kill the tax exemption.
Schlukitz
Since Chris Hughes is the openly gay co-owner, shouldn’t Maggie Gallagher and Brian Fischer of NOM be organizing a boycott against Facebook or something?
Or are the 40,000 protesters of Starbucks too busy pouring lattes and mocha-chinos down the sewers of our nation’s cities?
oldgayvermonter
Let’s not get all giddy here…have the non-bankrupt Papists shoveled in their tax-exempt 100k yet? They hide money to prevent paying damages in lawsuits, but always seem to have some “special” funds lying about. And let us not forget how generous those LDS folks are in keeping us down. Nice start to the defense though! There may be hope yet!!
jj
Hes really cute! total power bottom, but still hot.
1equalityUSA
Dear Chris Hughes, Thank you for becoming involved with this fight. Your financial backing is very much appreciated. Equality is inevitable and with people helping out monetarily, the process excellerates.