FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2012
Dan Rafter
National Organization for MarriageSees One-Third Decline in Contributions for 2011; Two Donors Provided 75Percent of Funding
Momentum for LGBT equality is taking a steeptoll on the financial state of the nation’s leading anti-gay group
Washington – The NationalOrganization for Marriage (NOM) saw a steep decline in the amount of money itraised in 2011 – dropping to $6.2 million from the $9.1 million it raised theprevious year. Just two donors were responsible for funding 75 percent of theanti-gay group – the organization reported two donations of approximately $2.4million each. The information is available in NOM’s 2011 990, which NOM madeavailable this evening after HRC requested the documents in-person at theirWashington, D.C. office earlier this morning.
“TheNational Organization for Marriage continues to push the notion that there issome sort of grassroots support for their discriminatory anti-gay agenda,” saidHRC Vice President of Communications Fred Sainz. “Last week, that notion wassoundly rejected by voters in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington State.Now, NOM’s own financial records are serving as the latest proof that supportfor LGBT equality is common-sense and mainstream. NOM is nothing more than aconduit channeling the anti-gay agenda of a few secretive, wealthy donors.”
The sharpdrop in funding is notable also because NOM experienced significant financialgrowth each year since its founding in 2007, when it was formed to demonizeLGBT people in California as part of efforts to pass Proposition 8. 2011 marksthe first year in which the anti-gay group’s funding declined.
NOM’s 2011990 is available here.In addition to illustrating that more than $4.7 million of NOM’s total $6.2million reported came from just two mysterious mega-donors, the documents alsoreveal some interesting information about NOM’s closest affiliates. Forexample, NOM paid $870,000 to CC Advertising – a group HRC recently filedan FCC complaint against for spamming unsuspecting cell phone users withanti-gay, anti-Obama text messages. The organization also paid nearly $375,000to Frank Schubert, their ad guru who makes his living largely off of promotinganti-LGBT propaganda.
NOM spentupwards of $5.7 million on attempts to prevent marriage equality in Maine,Maryland, and Washington; write discrimination in Minnesota’s constitution; andpoliticize Iowa’s judicial system. Voters in all five states soundly rejectedNOM’s discriminatory messaging. The anti-gay organization remains embroiled inseveral legal battles over revealing the identities of the few mega-donors whofund their work.
Morebackground on NOM, including information on the organization’s leadership anddetails on its close financial ties to religious institutions such as the RomanCatholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Church of Latter Day Saints,is available via HRC’s NOM Exposed project at www.nomexposed.org.
TheHuman Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual andtransgender political organization with members throughout the country. Iteffectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the publicto ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work andin the community.
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