HRC pledges $125,000 in Maine's fight for marriage equality

Marty Rouse, National Field Director for the Human Rights Campaign, delivered a check for $50,000 to Maine's 'No On 1 - Protect Marriage Equality' campaign August 12, totaling HRC's current contributions to the campaign at $75,000.

The Human Rights Campaign has also sent staff members to the Pine Tree State to aid the campaign, which aims to keep laws allowing Maine's same-sex couples to wed off the ballot this November.

Those in opposition to marriage equality in the state, however, have mounted a fierce campaign that includes the recent hiring of the California firm that ran publicity for Proposition 8 and a heavy influx of donations from across the country.

Rouse, however, is not daunted.

"We don't need to match our opponents," he said. "But we do need to raise significant funds.

"This campaign is a grassroots campaign and we feel confident this campaign will be won by the grassroots, but we must try as best we can to raise a significant amount of money."

With the continued support from organizations and citizens that support marriage equality, Rouse believes that marriage for same-sex couples in Maine will be protected and set an example for the rest of the country.

"Once we win here, we solidify New England, and that would be a terrific thing for not only New England, but our entire country."