Today, I received this email from the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) a hate group opposed to any legislation that helps create equality for all Americans. Added emphasis is mine.

Saturday, January 14, 2011

Dear Thomas,

The Presidential primaries have begun, and we’re already in the middle of some major campaigns to promote and defend marriage. 2012 has begun with a bang—I’m currently writing to you from Texas where I’m meeting with key religious leaders. I’ve already been to Iowa for the caucuses and will soon be going to South Carolina.

But I wanted to take a minute to write you a quick note and let you know—WE DID IT!

As you know, a very generous donor gave us 3 months, during which time they would match every donation we received dollar-for-dollar up to one million. As of this morning, we have raised $995,339.85, and I’m awaiting a final update on the mail returns from the end of the year. But given the mail volume we received to date, I’ve no doubt and am extremely happy to announce that we are going to reach our goal of raising $1 million!

And it couldn’t have happened without incredible supporters like you. Thank you so much for standing with us and giving us your support in defense of marriage.

The cause of marriage will win out in the end in no small part due to you and millions of Americans just like you. I am honored to be your representative in the fight to defend marriage.

Thank you for your continued support and trust. It means so much to me and to this just cause.

God bless you!

I especially love the “God Bless You”! It says much about the audience to which NOM is speaking and working through.

The battle against these types of homophobes will continue and the fighting will seem intense, because they are on their last leg and fighting out of total desperation! No better proof of that is the fact that the State of Washington is but two votes shy of passing Marriage Equality there! Polls and situations like Washington show us that those who are for marriage equality are either already the majority or extrewmely close to it. And those who are so vocal against it are a small and dwindling group with a ton of money that they use to spread lies and misinformation.

Now, there is much likelihood that you can’t believe anything in this email from NOM (they are not known for their honesty!) but even if we take it at face value, look at what it implies. They have one donor who has pledged to match gifts up to 1 million dollars. So, for every dollar given, it would count as two. And they say:

we are going to reach our goal of raising $1 million!

So what does this mean? They have raiased almost 500,000 from other folks. This is no small change to be sure, but how does it really breakdown?  We know by looking at the Prop 8 fight in California, that large and well unded organizations were the real money behind the anti-gay efforts. $500,000 could really be just a few people! NOM has worked so hard to keep their donors secret, and the biggest reason is that to have them brought to loght would show just how few donors they actually have.

This is not reason to celebrate, but rather it is reason to not give up the passion with which we fight for marriage equality. We still have a long way to go, but our battle is really against a small group of very loud, very rich  supporters who have no problem sinning (bearing false witness is a sin) when it works to their advantage to do what they claim is “the Lord’s work.”