Freedom to Marry announces $200,000 matching grant for Maine’s ‘Yes on 1’

Yesterday, Mainers United for Marriage officially launched "Yes on 1," the campaign in Maine to proactively pass the freedom to marry at the ballot. Hundreds of people gathered at the kick-off rally in Portland, and the campaign is clearly energized to ramp up the effort to win marriage for all couples in the next two months. 

Today, Freedom to Marry announced a pledge to match donations up to $200,000 to the "Yes on 1" campaign through the end of September. The $200,000 contribution from our Win More States Fund would bring our total investment in Maine to $1 million this year.    

Our National Campaign Director Marc Solomon, who also serves on the Mainers United executive committee, commented on the "Yes on 1" campaign today in a statement. He said:

Freedom to Marry could not be more proud to be such an active part of the campaign to win the freedom to marry in Maine this November. We are entering the final stretch, and if supporters step up with the resources required to finish the job, I am confident we will prevail.

The "Yes on 1" campaign also began airing a new statewide television advertisement today featuring Pastor Michael Gray of Old Orchard Beach United Methodist Church and his wife Robyn. The couple's church is the lead signer on the Maine citizen's initiative to pass the freedom to marry at the ballot. The ad emphasizes the religious freedom language that's integral to the ballot measure. Since the measure calls for civil marriage at the state level, this means that churches and religious organizations will not be required to perform marriages for same-sex couples. 

In the ad, Robyn outlines this important aspect of the ballot measure, saying, "Maine has the chance to allow all committed couples the freedom to marry and protect the religious freedom of churches at the same time. That's why we're voting Yes on Question 1."

Mainers United for Marriage campaign manager Matt McTighe (pictured above) reflected on the matching grant from Freedom to Marry. He said:

With the launch of "Yes on 1," there's no better time for this incredibly generous match offer. Freedom to Marry has always been a lifeline for our campaign, and this latest, critical infusion will help put us over the top to win at the ballot in November. Between conversations generated by ‘Yes on 1' and the powerful message from Pastor Gray in this new ad, we're confident that Mainers will vote on the side of love and commitment for same-sex couples on Election Day.  

Through our Win More States Fund, Freedom to Marry has invested more than three million dollars in the November ballot campaigns concerning the freedom to marry. In addition to strategically funneling contributions toward the campaigns in Maine, Minnesota, and Washington, we're also serving on governance committees and helping each of the campaigns with messaging, new media tactics, and field assistance. 

Read more about the freedom to marry in Maine or the other three marriage ballot measures, or check out the Mainers United website for more information.