No on 8
Gets Boost From Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa

Long a vocal supporter of marriage equality, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa put his money where his mouth is over the weekend by donating $25,000 to fight the proposed California marriage ban, Proposition 8.

Amid recent news that the Yes on 8 is campaign gaining momentum -- most polls show those favoring the ban outnumbering those against it by a comfortable margin with just three weeks to go before the election -- Villaraigosa coupled his donation with a statement sent out through the grassroots CourageCampaign.org urging Californians to vote down the ballot measure.

"Unfortunately, polls now show that the anti-marriage equality 'Yes on 8' campaign is leading, just as vote-by-mail ballots arrive in voters' mailboxes across California. The 'No on 8' campaign needs our help today to get the marriage equality message out on TV immediately," Villaraigosa wrote.

Equality California and No on 8 held an emergency media briefing last week to underline the need for immediate funding to compete with Yes on 8 in television advertising. Spokesman Geoff Kors said No on 8 needs to bring in $10 million over the next few weeks if it hopes to defeat the proposition.

Villaraigosa is among the potential California gubernatorial candidates being mentioned for 2010. (The Advocate)