Dallas-based telecommunications giant AT&T has contributed $75,000 to anti-gay Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott’s campaign for governor.
Lone Star Q reports that, according to campaign finance reports obtained by the Texas Ethics Commission, AT&T’s Texas political action committee gave $50,000 to Abbott’s campaign in January, and another $25,000 in June.
AT&T, long considered a strong ally to the LGBT community, also contributed $50,000 to Abbott’s campaign in June 2013, shortly before he formally announced his bid for governor.
Abbott is appealing a federal court ruling that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.
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In court documents, he has argued that the ban allows the state to promote the birth and upbringing of children in “stable, lasting relationships,” and best supports children.
“The PAC supports a variety of candidates for a variety of reasons,” AT&T spokesman Marty Richter told Lone Star Q. Richter declined to comment on specific reasons for the contributions.
Last week, reports surfaced that Facebook donated $10,000 to the campaign of Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes. Reyes is leading the fight against a federal court ruling striking down Utah’s same-sex marriage ban.