(New York City) 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.

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.”

The study included results from 21 different states representing all four major regions of the country.

“As statehouse sessions begin across the country, legislators should take the findings of this report as proof that there’s no reason to back down from supporting the freedom to marry and opposing anti-gay measures,” said Wolfson.

” And those of us outside the legislature should not be afraid to ask our representatives to do the right thing, and should do our part to help them do it, by talking about the injustice of exclusion from marriage and how government should help, not hurt, all families.”

Freedom to Marry was founded in 2003.