There’s a strong Republican and conservative case to be made in favor of the right to marry,” Ken Mehlman told the room. “If we are all endowed by a creator with unalienable rights including the pursuit of happiness, how can that not include marrying the person you love?”

Ken Mehlman

Ken Mehlman joined KKR in 2008 and is Global Head of Public Affairs. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Mehlman was a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld with a bi-partisan practice in legislative and regulatory counseling. He previously served in high-level positions on Capitol Hill and at the White House, including serving as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Ken Mehlman came out as gay in an interview with the Atlantic Monthly in 2010. Since then he has actively worked for the cause of marriage equality and has used his connections in the Republican party to fight for equal rights, same-sex marriage, and the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." He is on the board of the American Foundation for Equal Rights and continues to speak out on the issue.

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