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| Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos pledges $2.5m to same-sex marriage in Washington | Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos pledges $2.5m to same-sex marriage in Washington |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie have pledged $2.5m to supporters of gay marriage in Washington state, in what is believed to be the largest-ever single donation to the campaign for same-sex unions in the United States. | Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie have pledged $2.5m to supporters of gay marriage in Washington state, in what is believed to be the largest-ever single donation to the campaign for same-sex unions in the United States. |
| The donation doubles the amount of money available to supporters of a referendum in Washington, which seeks to uphold a same-sex marriage law that was signed by the state governor Chris Gregoire in February. | The donation doubles the amount of money available to supporters of a referendum in Washington, which seeks to uphold a same-sex marriage law that was signed by the state governor Chris Gregoire in February. |
| Amazon, with Microsoft, Nike and Starbucks, publicly declared support for Washington's same-sex marriage legislation in February when the legislation was before the state senate. Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer donated $100,000 each to supporters of the legislation in early July. | Amazon, with Microsoft, Nike and Starbucks, publicly declared support for Washington's same-sex marriage legislation in February when the legislation was before the state senate. Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer donated $100,000 each to supporters of the legislation in early July. |
| Jennifer Cast, a former Amazon employee who is a lesbian and the volunteer finance co-chair for Washington United for Marriage, emailed Jeff Bezos Sunday asking him to donate between $100,000 and $200,000 to the effort, writing: | Jennifer Cast, a former Amazon employee who is a lesbian and the volunteer finance co-chair for Washington United for Marriage, emailed Jeff Bezos Sunday asking him to donate between $100,000 and $200,000 to the effort, writing: |
| I want to have the right to marry the love of my life and to let my children and grandchildren know their family is honored like a 'real' family. We need help from straight people. To be very frank, we need help from wealthy straight people who care about us and who want to help us win. | I want to have the right to marry the love of my life and to let my children and grandchildren know their family is honored like a 'real' family. We need help from straight people. To be very frank, we need help from wealthy straight people who care about us and who want to help us win. |
| Cast received a reply Tuesday night, that said: "Jen, this is right for so many reasons. We're in for $2.5m. Jeff & MacKenzie." | Cast received a reply Tuesday night, that said: "Jen, this is right for so many reasons. We're in for $2.5m. Jeff & MacKenzie." |
| In a statement, Washington United for Marriage said that the donation is believed to be the largest individual gift in the US towards the cause of same-sex marriage. | In a statement, Washington United for Marriage said that the donation is believed to be the largest individual gift in the US towards the cause of same-sex marriage. |
| "The extraordinary contribution from Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos will make an enormous difference for our campaign to defend Washington's marriage law," said WUM's campaign manager, Zach Silk. "While it provides an amazing base for the work ahead, we hope it spurs others to invest because we're a long way from November and we face opponents with deep pockets who are committed to spending millions to defeat us." | "The extraordinary contribution from Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos will make an enormous difference for our campaign to defend Washington's marriage law," said WUM's campaign manager, Zach Silk. "While it provides an amazing base for the work ahead, we hope it spurs others to invest because we're a long way from November and we face opponents with deep pockets who are committed to spending millions to defeat us." |
| The opposition is led by Preserve Marriage Washington, who have received $253,319 in donations so far. The organization believes that if Referendum 74 is passed, it will make marriage "genderless": | The opposition is led by Preserve Marriage Washington, who have received $253,319 in donations so far. The organization believes that if Referendum 74 is passed, it will make marriage "genderless": |
| For thousands of years, marriage between one man and one woman has proven to be the cornerstone of our society. Thirty-two other states have already voted to preserve marriage – November 6 is our opportunity to do the same. Since same-sex couples already enjoy all the benefits of marriage in Washington – and same-sex marriage would grant no new rights whatsoever – it's clear that the other side's intent in this battle is to reinvent the family and make marriage a genderless institution. | For thousands of years, marriage between one man and one woman has proven to be the cornerstone of our society. Thirty-two other states have already voted to preserve marriage – November 6 is our opportunity to do the same. Since same-sex couples already enjoy all the benefits of marriage in Washington – and same-sex marriage would grant no new rights whatsoever – it's clear that the other side's intent in this battle is to reinvent the family and make marriage a genderless institution. |
| Though same-sex marriage is legal in six other states and Washington DC, each of the 32 ballot measures to legalize or ban same-sex marriage that have been put to vote have resulted in favor of those opposed to same-sex marriage. | Though same-sex marriage is legal in six other states and Washington DC, each of the 32 ballot measures to legalize or ban same-sex marriage that have been put to vote have resulted in favor of those opposed to same-sex marriage. |
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