Gay Rights Orgs Double Up

Facebook cofounder Chris Hughes and his partner, Freedom to Marry political director Sean Eldridge, have a made a huge commitment to the nonprofit push for marriage equality nationwide. The couple will match donations made to Freedom to Marry, Empire State Pride Agenda, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and Equality Maryland for the rest of this year.

Eldridge confirmed in an email to The Advocate that he and Hughes will match up to $100K for Freedom to Marry, $50K for ESPA, $50K for GLAD, and $25K for Equality Maryland.

"Sean and Chris have taken bold action to help Freedom to Marry win," founder Evan Wolfson wrote in an e-mail. "Today -- I'm asking you to do the same. Can you donate $25 to win? For every donation made it will be matched, dollar for dollar."

Eldridge and Hughes have been a couple for five years. The two have been actively involved in numerous gay rights and political causes, including Hughes's work on Barack Obama's presidential campaign.