by Karen Ocamb

“I’m feeling good. There’s a smile on my face, there’s a spring in my step, and there’s a ring on my finger. I don’t know if you all heard or not—but I got married,” Ellen DeGeneres said Sept. 9 as she opened her award-winning talk show to a rousing standing ovation. The audience reveled in the discussion of her wedding to actress Portia de Rossi, which DeGeneres called “the most important day of my life.”

The cause for marriage equality couldn’t have asked for better publicity.

However, marriage equality is on the chopping block in November, and close scrutiny of the California Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance website indicates that DeGeneres has not contributed to the fight against Prop 8, the constitutional amendment that “eliminate[s] right of same sex couples to marry.”

If Prop 8 passes, it would be the first time in American history that an existing minority right would be taken away by the vote of a majority.

The Yes on 8 campaign is ahead in critical fundraising, spurred in part by Christian conservative Sarah Palin’s entrance into the presidential race. As of Sept. 11, the Yes on Prop 8 campaign raised $15,878,593.16, with more than $750,000 raised on Sept. 10 alone.

“We have raised a record $11 million to fight Prop 8. Unfortunately, the other side has raised $16 million and is raising money at a feverish pace. We need to catch up and match them dollar for dollar,” Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California and leader in the No on 8/Equality for All campaign, told IN Los Angeles magazine. “With an expected 13 million voters and the most expensive media markets in the nation, it takes tens of millions of dollars to get your message out. If we can get our message out at the same rate as they can, I believe we will win. But if they continue to have more resources, it will be very difficult for us to prevail.”

So while their visibility as openly LGBT celebrities and entertainment power players is important, their financial absence from the specific fight to save the fundament right of same-sex couples to marry is hurting.

Also missing (as of Sept. 10) from the rolls were: Rosie O’Donnell, whose Feb. 27, 2004, marriage to Kelli Carpenter was nullified; Sir Elton John, who tied the civil partnership knot with partner David Furnish in England; rock star Melissa Etheridge, whose domestic partnership/wedding to actress Tammy Lynn Michaels Sept. 22, 2003, was celebrated in In Style magazine.

Other producers and directors not on the list include Paul Colichman (here!TV) Greg Berlanti (Brothers & Sisters), Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives), Bryan Singer (Superman Returns), Joel Schumacher (Batman & Robin), and Gus Van Sant, though Bruce Cohen, who produced Milk, directed by Van Sant, was recently married and did contribute. Max Muchnick (Will & Grace) also contributed, as did David Geffen, partner in DreamWorks, who gave $50,000, and Bryan Lourd, managing partner of Creative Artists Agency who contributed $5,000.

Top individual donors are philanthropist David Bohnett ($600,000), David Maltz, of Cleveland ($500,000), James Hormel ($150,000) and Gene La Pietra ($100,000).

Among companies and foundations that contributed monetarily and “in-kind,” Equality California is the largest contributor at $4 million (EQCA’s annual budget is $1.5 million). The Human Rights Campaign has contributed $2 million (with a budget of $40 million); the ACLU, $1.5 million; National Center for Lesbian Rights, more than $500,000; the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, $250,000; Gill Action Fund, $350,000. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has contributed $257,000 (with a budget of $9 million), but has 90 percent of its field staff working in Southern California for the fight. (Full disclosure: IN magazine contributed $20,000.)

Log Cabin Republicans also launched Republicans Against 8. “A lot of the rank and file in the party just are not going to go down the path of using socially divisive issues as a wedge in this campaign cycle,” says Log Cabin Republicans/L.A. president Charles Moran.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has contributed $200,000, but raised eyebrows by continuing to fundraise in California for the organization.

“None of the national LGBT organizations have stopped their general fundraising and their general work and their general appeal for support,” GLAAD President Neil Guiliano told IN, adding that GLAAD must be legally careful as a tax-exempt, 501(c) 3 organization in how it supports the No on 8 campaign, including not sending out e-mail educational advisories.

Jenny Pizer, senior counsel for Lambda Legal, explained that Lambda is also a 501(c)3 and similarly limited. “We decided not to set up a (c)4 or a PAC to fight Prop 8 because it would just be an extra layer of institutional ‘pass-through’ between our donors and the campaign,” says Pizer, noting that Lambda has been pushing donors to write checks directly. “This way, the No on Prop 8 campaign knows who the donors are and can do follow-up to ask for additional contributions, which we hope will be helpful.”

Like so many other couples, Pizer and her fiancée have also asked their friends to honor their relationship by contributing to the campaign. Lesbian pioneer Phyllis Lyon, one of the first to be legally married on June 16, donated $1,000 in the name of her late wife Del Martin.

Indeed, the No on 8 campaign is largely funded by donations by individuals from “self-employed performer” Laura Innes, who contributed $500, to “stay-at-home dad” Andrew Abowitz ($5,000) to Paul Lewis, a Stop & Shop grocery stock clerk from Wayne, N.J. ($250).

Others, such as activist Robin Tyler, are contributing their talents. Tyler created a series of online Equality Campaign PSA’s on YouTube. (youtube.com/user/theEqualityCampaign).

And opposition to Prop. 8 from prominent people continues. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein sent IN this statement: “The right to marry is fundamental … The views of Californians on this issue have changed over time, and as a state, I believe we should uphold the ability of our friends, neighbors, and co-workers who are gay and lesbian to enter into the contract of marriage. I urge Californians to oppose Proposition 8.”

For more information, or to donate to the No on 8 campaign, visit noonprop8.com.