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Freedom to Marry pumping more money into Minnesota's marriage battle

The national group plans to spend at least $800,000 on states, including Minnesota, that will debate same-sex marriage

February 8, 2013 at 12:12AM

Lynne Hvidsten and Cindy Amberger, who have been in a relationship for 20 years, were among the marriage amendment opponents who held a victory rally on the steps of the State Capitol the night after the 2012 election. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

New York-based Freedom to Marry plans to pump cash into this year's Minnesota legislative fight to legalize gay marriage.

The national group, which donated more than $700,000 into the successful campaign to oppose last year's constitutional ban on gay marriage, said on Thursday that it hoped to raise $2 million to spread amongst state's debating marriage laws. It said it planned to spread $800,000 among five states, including Minnesota, to wage the fight.

November rally to celebrate the defeat of the ballot measure to define marriage as only the union of one man and one woman (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

"As we move toward securing the freedom to marry for our state, this investment shows the level of commitment and confidence that soon all loving and committed couples can join marriage in Minnesota," Richard Carlbom, campaign manager for Minnesotans United for All Families, said in a statement.

Minnesotans United was the main organization campaigning against last year's marriage amendment and is taking charge of this year's lobbying to legalize same-sex marriage.

Freedom to Marry plans to spend cash in Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island as well as Minnesota.

Update: Jake Loesch communications director for Minnesota United said the group has already received $150,000 from Freedom to Marry and "we anticipate more in the coming months."