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)
