Opponents of a proposed constitutional
amendment which would define marriage as a heterosexual union in
Minnesota have raised $1.2 million to defeat the measure in November,
the Star-Tribune
reported.
Campaign finance reports show
Minnesotans United for All Families raised the funds mostly in the
closing quarter of 2011 from more than 5,100 people.
“Thousands of Minnesotans are
beginning conversations with friends, family and neighbors about why
they need to vote no on this anti-family amendment,” Richard
Carlbom, campaign manager for Minnesotans United, told the paper.
“It's not about the money, it's about the conversations.”
(Related: Minnesota
voters divided on gay marriage ban.)
The majority of the money (75%) came
from Minnesotan donors, who each contributed, on average, $216.
More than a dozen contributions
exceeded $10,000 or more, including a donation from Bruce Dayton, the
father of Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, an opponent of the
amendment.
Rick Smith, who plans to help the group
raise funds by hosting a house party, told the paper that he is
working against passage of the amendment because Minnesota won't
recognize his daughter's Massachusetts marriage to her wife.
“There is nothing that can strengthen
a family more than letting two people who love each other get
married,” he said. “I know how hard it is to find a soul mate,
and I can't imagine how hard it is that they can't do what is in
their hearts.”
Minnesota for Marriage, the group
behind the amendment, is expected to release its reports on Tuesday.