June 2016
The third brief in the “More Than Represent” series provides analysis of an original survey of 2,400 state lawmakers, and examines the impact LGB representatives had on influencing straight lawmaker colleagues to vote in favor of marriage equality bills.
Among the findings:
- 70 percent of straight state lawmakers who voted in favor of marriage equality legislation reported their LGBTQ lawmaker colleagues had a strong impact on the way they voted; and
- The impact LGBTQ lawmakers have on their straight colleagues’ marriage votes increases as the number of LGBTQ lawmakers increase.