Proposition 8 Plaintiffs Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo Retain MWW As Public Relations Agency Of Record

LOS ANGELES, April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MWW (www.mww.com), one of the top five global independent public relations firms, today announced that Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, two of the plaintiffs in the historic marriage equality Supreme Court case, Hollingsworth vs Perry, that led to the overturning of California's Proposition 8, has retained MWW as public relations agency of record. Katami and Zarrillo will tap MWW's LGBT practice to support their upcoming documentary launch, speaking engagements and for public relations and media strategy as they continue to be leading voices in the advancement of equality for the LGBT community.

"Our battle to win marriage equality in California was just the first step," said Katami and Zarrillo. "Our work is not done until LGBT people of all ages are treated equally in all 50 states whether it be about marriage, employment, housing, bullying or any other issues facing our community. MWW's expertise in the LGBT community is exactly what we need to engage, inform and educate the public as we work toward full equality for LGBT Americans."

Katami and Zarrillo, widely known for their federal lawsuit against California's Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that banned equal marriage rights in the state, was overturned on June 26, 2013 after a four and a half year struggle. On June 28, 2013, Katami and Zarrillo were officially married by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at Los Angeles City Hall live on television across the United States.

Throughout the process, Katami and Zarrillo were followed by filmmakers Ben Cotner and Ryan White, who documented their journey. The HBO Documentary Films' project, The Case Against 8, will premiere in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on June 6, 2014 and will expand to select cities June 13, 2014. The film will then debut on HBO on June 23, 2014, in time for the one-year anniversary of the historic Supreme Court decision. As agency of record, MWW will handle Katami and Zarrillo's media relations.

"Paul and Jeff's courage and leadership during their fight for marriage equality has literally been life-changing for millions of LGBT Americans, our friends and families," said Stephen Macias, MWW's senior vice president and LGBT practice lead. "They have helped change history and continue to lead the charge for LGBT equality across all fronts. We are honored to represent them."

Led Macias, the team for Katami and Zarrillo includes practitioners with deep expertise reaching the LGBT community through traditional and social media relations. MWW's newly launched LGBT practice includes clients such as The Advocate, OUT, Gay.com, Here TV and Steven Petrow.

This announcement comes on the heels of the MWW's acquisition of top LGBT agency, Macias Media Group, making MWW one of the largest public relations firms with a dedicated LGBT practice.

To book Katami and Zarrillo for speaking engagements or media interviews, please contact Mark Umbach at 310-986-6312 or [email protected].

About Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo
Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo began their journey together in 2001. Having wanted to marry since 2008, they considered their options but felt those available fell short of full marriage equality. Jeff and Paul officially joined the federal lawsuit against Proposition 8 in California and went on to take the case before the United States Supreme Court. The couple prevailed in a landmark Supreme Court decision and on June 28, 2013, Paul and Jeff were married at Los Angeles City Hall by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The couple's journey has directly impacted the lives of millions of Americans who have battled for full federal recognition. Paul and Jeff motivate and inspire through countless speaking engagements and television, print, and digital media appearances including CNN, MSNBC, and, Time, among others. They recently were honored with the Human Rights Campaign's National Equality Award and have received countless other accolades for their service and dedication to equality. The new documentary The Case Against 8, which chronicles their journey, debuts in June.

About MWW
MWW is one of the nation's top mid-sized public relations firms and one of the five largest independent agencies. The firm is industry-recognized for its work in consumer lifestyle marketing, digital marketing and social media, corporate communications, public affairs and government relations, consumer technology, healthcare and visual branding.

MWW's approach to building and accelerating relevance for clients has been recognized with top industry awards, including the 2013 "PR Agency of the Year," by the International Business Awards, 2013 "Midsize Agency of the Year" by the Bulldog Stars of PR Awards as well as 2013 "Best Places to Work in New Jersey" by NJBiz and 2012 "Top Places to Work in PR" by PR News. For more information on the firm's capabilities and "Matter More" commitment, visit www.mww.com. Connect with MWW on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Plus and Instagram.

SOURCE MWW