The LGBT-Supportive Billionaire Backing Marco Rubio for President

A letter from influential New York investor Paul Singer argues Rubio is "in a position to defeat" Hillary Clinton.

Dawn Ennis

The Advocate's news editor Dawn Ennis successfully transitioned from broadcast journalism to online media following another transition that made headlines; in 2013, she became the first trans staffer in any major TV network newsroom. As the first out transgender editor at The Advocate, the native New Yorker continues her 30-year media career, in which she has earned more than a dozen awards, including two Emmys. With the blessing of her three children, Dawn retains the most important job title she's ever held: Dad.

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Dawn Ennis

November 01 2015 8:53 AM EST

November 01 2015 12:05 PM EST

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One of the most monied Republican supporters of marriage equality has reportedly thrown his support to the campaign of Marco Rubio.

Paul Singer is a billionaire hedge fund manager and major Republican donor from New York who has donated more than $10 million to marriage equality work over the past decade through his Super PAC. His son and son-in-law married in Massachusetts in 2009.

Rubio actively campaigned against marriage equality and opposes the LGBT movement broadly on a number of issues, which left some activists disappointed with news of Singer's endorsement, broken by The New York Times.

\u201cHypocritical of Singer, who has gay son & has given to LGBT causes to support hard-line anti-gay candidate for Prez. https://t.co/8EqaaJbxk7\u201d
— Corey Johnson (@Corey Johnson) 1446248990

The Times, which reported Friday it obtained a copy of a letter sent by Singer to fellow campaign donors, called his decision to support the U.S. senator from Florida one "that could swing millions of dollars in contributions behind Mr. Rubio at a critical point in the Republican nominating battle."

The big loser, reported The Times, is former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who had another lackluster performance in the latest GOP debate.

Singer's letter calls Rubio the only Republican in the running who can "navigate this complex primary process, and still be in a position to defeat" Hillary Clinton in a head to head battle next year.