Microsoft gives $100K to Wash. campaign supporting more partnership rights for gay couples

Microsoft gives $100K to Wash. gay-partners effort

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Microsoft Corp. has donated $100,000 to the campaign supporting more partnership rights for Washington state gay couples.

That’s the largest single donation in favor of Referendum 71, which asks voters to approve or reject a new law that expands domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian couples. Microsoft is based in Redmond.

The “approve” campaign committee, called Washington Families Standing Together, has raised about $780,000 overall, and spent about $200,000.

The “reject” campaign, called Protect Marriage Washington, has raised about $60,000, and spent about $35,000.