Minn. anti-gay marriage foes raise $3.1M

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ST. PAUL, Minn., June 20 (UPI) -- A Minnesota group opposing an effort to amend the state Constitution to ban gay marriage said it has raised three times more money than supporters.

Minnesotans United for All Families, the primary organization lining up in opposition to the proposed amendment that would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, reported Tuesday it had raised $3.1 million in the first half of 2012. The amount brought the group's total since the start of the campaign in 2011 to $4.6 million. Eighty-five percent of the money has come from within the state, the group said.

"Minnesotans are coming to the conclusion that limiting freedom to marry for same-sex couples is not how we do things in Minnesota," Richard Carlbom, campaign manager for the group, said in a statement.

The group supporting the amendment that will be decided by state voters in November, Minnesota for Marriage, reported it had raised $1.4 million through 2011 and 2012, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday. Chairman John Helmberger said his group "expected to be out-raised by their opponents, but takes comfort in knowing that a similar fundraising dynamic in other states didn't prevent gay marriage bans from succeeding there."

Similar bans have passed in 30 states, and none thus far have failed in referendums.