Fund Backs Marriage Equality “Before It Was Cool”

In this San Francisco Chronicle article, reporter Joe Garofoli profiles the Haas, Jr. Fund’s early decision to back marriage equality, and stay with it for the long haul. “14 years ago, few would publicly support same-sex marriage—let alone put money behind it.”

The article traces the Fund’s ongoing support for marriage equality, from helping to create Freedom to Marry to serve as a unifying force for the movement, through the early, devastating losses of 2004, to the creation of a unified strategy. It also tells the story of how the Haas family came to take on this issue, including early support from co-founder Evelyn D. Haas: “When Evelyn Haas, the Fund’s matriarch, was asked if she worried about potential controversy alienating friends and colleagues, she told the group, “Well, then they’ll have to get over it. It’s time for all of us to move on.”