Funds spike for groups backing gay marriage

OLYMPIA — Supporters of same-sex marriage in Washington state said Monday that they raised more than $952,000 last month for the campaign to uphold the state’s new law, which is currently on hold pending the outcome of a November ballot measure.

The announcement by Washington United for Marriage comes a day before a deadline for initiative campaigns to file their monthly campaign finance reports with the state Public Disclosure Commission.

“We want to continue this incredible momentum and ride this wave throughout summer to be competitive in the fall,” said Zach Silk, campaign manager for Washington United for Marriage. Silk said that they expect to see a fundraising spike by their opponents later in the fall.

Among the donations were $100,000 each from Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder Bill Gates.

Referendum 74 was certified for the ballot last month after same-sex marriage opponents turned in more than 240,000 signatures, far more than the minimum of 120,577 required. R-74 asks voters to either vote “yes” to uphold the law, or “no” to overturn it.

As of Monday, Washington United for Marriage said it had raised more than $2 million. Preserve Marriage Washington, which collected the signatures to get R-74 on the ballot, has raised more than $135,000, according to the Public Disclosure Commission, though it hasn’t yet submitted its totals for June.