Statement from Public Private Strategies Principals Following Senate Vote on Marriage Equality Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, the U.S. Senate  advanced the Respect for Marriage Act,  a bipartisan bill that protects marriage equality, including codifying protections for same-sex and interracial marriage into federal law.

Following today’s vote, Rhett Buttle, Founder and Principal of Public Private Strategies, and Katie V. Wonnenberg, Principal of Public Private Strategies, released the following statement:

“Today is a historic step forward in the long fight for marriage equality, as the U.S. Senate advanced bipartisan legislation to enshrine the right to marriage equality into federal law for the first time.”

“The voice of business is uniquely trusted across the political spectrum, and businesses from Fortune 500 companies to mom-and-pop shops have played a critical role in getting us here today, building bipartisan support for the movement for marriage equality. 

“Prior to the Obergefell decision in 2015, businesses of all sizes played a key role in advocating for marriage equality legislation, particularly at the state and local levels. A 2012  Pew Research analysis  of the movement for marriage equality at the state level found that “business [is] playing key role in drive for gay marriage,” citing successful coalitions of activists and business groups that worked together to push for marriage equality legislation at the state level.

“The business community has remained an essential partner and advocate in today’s effort to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, and will continue to push to bring the legislation to President Biden’s desk before the end of this Congress.”

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