Secretive Gay Donors Back Candidates Nationwide

A secretive group of wealthy gay activists who call themselves the Cabinet has been pouring huge sums into defeating anti-gay political candidates across the country, Time reports. The seven members of the Cabinet are estimated to have injected at least $7.8 million into races nationwide since 2004, and have earned a reputation in the gay community as a sort of "homosexual justice league."

Spokespeople for the publicity-shy Cabinet stress that the group—whose members range from dotcom millionaires to heirs of industrial fortunes—is not breaking any donations rules. Analysts see the group's clout as part of a wider shift in gay and leftist politics, as rich donors emerge in place of the old grass-roots movements. Some worry that the big checks are breeding a damaging complacency among groups once spurred by outrage to push for change.
(More political donations stories.)