Study: Gay-friendly state politicians are better off

[Bluebear]

A study released Tuesday shows that contrary to some political expectations, voting to support marriage equality for same-sex couples and opposing measures to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples has helped, rather than hurt, politicians.

A review of votes from 2005 to the present shows that legislators who vote to end marriage discrimination for same-sex couples are consistently re-elected.

The success of more than 1,100 state legislators who voted to support same-sex marriage appears to defy the commonly held belief that supporting marriage equality ends political campaigns and careers.

The study, by the group Freedom to Marry, also found that the legislators were re-elected no matter what party they represent or if they changed their vote from opposing to supporting marriage equality.

It also found that legislators who ran for higher office won after voting in favor of marriage for same-sex couples.

“The American people deserve leaders who aren’t afraid to lead.” said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry.

“For politicians, standing up for marriage equality is not touching a third-rail, rather, it is a track to re-election – and, happily, the path toward inclusion that America is traveling.”


http://www.365gay.com/news/study-gay-friendly-state-politicians-are-better-off/

[NOW tense]

1. You mean not being a hateful person actually is a good thing?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

2. A problem with the study is that it doesn't seem to control for the makeup of the district

Here in AZ we have several pro-marriage Democratic legislators. But they are in really safe districts. Their counterparts in more competitive districts might have trouble getting reelected if they expressed support for gay marriage. The article says that the legislators were from "all regions" but that doesn't really mean anything. There are blue districts in red states and vice versa.