Secret Million-Dollar Mormon Donor to Prop 8 Revealed

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Map) - SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The NO on Prop 8 campaign today announced that the secret $1 million donor to Prop 8 has been revealed: Alan Ashton, of Lindon, Utah.

According to the Deseret News, Ashton is a Mormon and grandson of David O. McKay, President of the Mormon Church from 1951-1970. Ashton made his fortune in software.

The donation was reported by the Prop 8 campaign on October 28.

The funds were in the form of matching funds to air a TV commercial that includes images of children who are being aired over the objection of their parents.

According to the Prop 8 Web site:

"One of our most fervent supporters has agreed to match, dollar for dollar, whatever you and others can donate, up to a total of $1 million. That means every dollar you give will buy two dollars in advertising time."

According to the ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City, Utah, Mormon donations as of October 27, 2008, were an estimated $19 million. The Ashton contribution therefore brings total Mormon donations to Prop 8 to an astonishing $20 million.

"The Mormon Church deserves the same respect as all religions," said NO on Prop 8 Executive Committee Member Geoff Kors. "But it is wrong for the Mormons to push their view of marriage on every Californian through the ballot box."

For more information on NO on Prop 8, please visit http://www.noonprop8.com.