Study: Gay Marriage Good For Economy

UCLA Researchers Say Same Sex Unions Will Create Jobs, Generate Revenue

(AP)  Same-sex weddings could create hundreds of new jobs and pump hundreds of millions of dollars into California's economy, according to a new study released Monday.

Gay couples are projected to spend $684 million on flowers, cakes, hotels, photographers and other wedding services over the next three years - so long as voters don't put a halt to the same-sex marriage spree, according to a study by the Williams Institute at University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.

During the three-year period, the researchers project that about half of the state's more than 100,000 same-sex couples will get married and another 68,000 out-of-state couples will travel to California to exchange vows. The nuptial rush is expected to create some 2,200 jobs.

The study estimates that over the next three years, gay weddings will generate $64 million in additional tax revenue for the state, and another $9 million in marriage-license fees for counties.

"This is clearly a win-win situation," said Lee Badgett, study co-author and research director at the Williams Institute. "It's good for the larger economy, there's a trickle down to state and local governments, and people get to celebrate their relationships."

Badgett said same-sex weddings could help prop up the state's tourism industry, which has been hit by skyrocketing fuel costs, rising airfares and a sagging economy. Picturesque locales and romantic getaways should see more business from gay weddings and honeymoons.

Researchers studied the economic impact of gay marriage in Massachusetts - the only U.S. state that allows gays and lesbians to marry - to develop their projections for California. They also used data from states such as Vermont that allow civil unions or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.

The California study focused on the next three years because researchers found the number of gay weddings tapered off three years after Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004.

Counties are expected to start issuing gender-neutral marriage licenses next week after the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage last month.

But the gay wedding march could be cut short if California voters approve a Nov. 4 ballot initiative that would overturn the court ruling and ban same-sex marriage.

[hypnotoad72]

Yes, but when "Lavender" magazine has their own asking if they''re ready for it, citing their own polls and statistics, never mind more than 50% of heteros won''t take their marriages seriously, there is nothing newsworthy (or relevant) about this discussion.

I''ll admit it would add to tax revenue, but for (no more than) 10% of the general population combined with 1 or 2% of that actually bothering, in a word, it''s negligible.

[hypnotoad72]

And here''s an image to be proud of:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/George_Takei_Chicago_Gay_&_Lesbian_Pride_2006.jpg/800px-George_Takei_Chicago_Gay_&_Lesbian_Pride_2006.jpg

Nice balloons he''s holding on to. "Look at me, I am holding balloons shaped like my tackle!" Those balloons will certainly win people over far more than anything substantial...

[irliberal]

"This is clearly a win-win situation," said Lee Badgett, study co-author and research director at the Williams Institute. "It''s good for the larger economy, there''s a trickle down to state and local governments, and people get to celebrate their relationships."

Works for me.

[feelfree4u]

re: "...never mind more than 50% of heteros won''''t take their marriages seriously..."

Posted by hypnotoad72

50% of heterosexuals don''t take their own marriages seriously either.

Who cares?

[grammawhamma]

I am all for G.a.y marriages...but this article is a lame excuse for supporting it.

[joe1022joe]

The UCLA Law School ?????????????? does a "study" on the economic effects of homosexual marriage???????? This is what they''re doing in law school in Southern California???????? Then an article about this nonsense is written in San Francisco. What a surprise. Then it is published by CBS as though it were news instead of propaganda. What a world.

[irliberal]

I''m glad that the bigots come here and show how ignorant and full of hate they are. They''re some of the best reason for gay marriage out there. Thanks guys. Try not to drown in your own hatred though. We need you to show the rest of the world what we have to put up with! Thanks!

[feelfree4u]

A companion study revealed that closeted toe-tapping legislators and their associates, can be devastating to the economy.

[ofbyfor1]

Posted by corey2444 at 06:04 AM : Jun 10, 2008

Corey, while the 2 examples you''ve posted so far are definitely vulgar and not something I would want to hear or see, the fact is that most gay people that I''ve known (I''m straight, BTW) don''t behave like this. If you met them on the street, you probably wouldn''t even know that they were gay. Also, I''m sure we''ve all seen some straight people wearing extremely offensive t-shirts or otherwise behaving in an offensive manner in public. Let''s apply the same standards.

God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. It''s disgusting, immoral and just not right. If everyone behaved in this manner, life would cease to exist. Has it simply got to the point that society embraces anyone that makes a profit? The gay community wants equal acceptance across the board and they wonder why they run into so much opposition. I am sick and tired of trying to explain to my sons why Adam and Steve are holding hands and kissing in public. If this behavior was acceptable, there would be no issues with society. I am not a hateful man but when a gay couple wants the same benefits and respect as a heterosexual couple, I cannot condone it and I do not want to support that behavior with my tax dollars.

[ralan40]

Jesus was silent on the topic of Homosexuality. However, he saved his greatest outrage towards the religious leaders of the day (Pharasees). He lashed out at their strict interpretations of the biblical texts and persecution of others in the name of God.
Today, many of these religious zealots call themselves ''christians'' but are nothing more than Biblio-theists, who love to quote the same old texts that were used against Jesus. Real Christians follow the words of Jesus, not the Bible. God is not a Trademark that is wholly owned by one specific viewpoint of humankind.

[libh8er]

Jesus was silent on the topic of Homosexuality. Posted by ralan40 at 07:40 AM : Jun 10, 2008

He was silent on heroin addiction, alcoholism, porn addiction, and numerous other topics...but I doubt that silence translates to approval.

To jerryomara,

So now the union of a man and woman is a fairy tale? As I stated before, this is just wrong. Go ahead and enjoy your life, I simply do not support it nor do I want to pay for it.

[rosesnpearls]

It is not about money, it is about morality. Our nation is selling its soul to the devil for political correctness and money.

[kevboom]

"when a gay couple wants the same benefits and respect as a heterosexual couple, I cannot condone it and I do not want to support that behavior with my tax dollars."

But I''m guessing you''re o.k. with gay couples paying property taxes to send your kids to good schools? I smell a double standard. And as for all you freaks abusing God''s name to spread your hate, Lynn Lavner says it best, "The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn''t mean that God doesn''t love heterosexuals. It''s just that they need more supervision."

[armydog2]

Pretty much what two adults who love each other and want to commit to each other do is nobody''s business but there own. their property tax dollars pay for schools, and the communities they live in. that is all anyone should be concerned with.To all the christians claiming the moral high ground, Jesus also said "Judge not least you be judged" They will face their maker when their time comes it is not your place to condemn them.

[bks59]

this is great news for those money grubbing capitalists, aka republicans.

[bbirdsr71]

The ACLU (the devil''s law firm) wants us as U.S. citizens to embrace a perverted lifestyle. This will destroy our nation, the Lord will bring judgment on this nation and destroy it like he did S0dom and Gomorrah for the same reason.

[pollroller1]

I think that we should all pray to the great monkey god Hanuman for guidance.

"when a gay couple wants the same benefits and respect as a heterosexual couple, I cannot condone it and I do not want to support that behavior with my tax dollars."

But I''''m guessing you''''re o.k. with gay couples paying property taxes to send your kids to good schools? I smell a double standard. And as for all you freaks abusing God''''s name to spread your hate, Lynn Lavner says it best, "The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn''''t mean that God doesn''''t love heterosexuals. It''''s just that they need more supervision."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

kevboom

There is no double standard. Death and taxes are a fact of life. We all have to pay it in some form. If a person is homosexual, so be it. Live your life. Do I think it''s normal? NO. As I stated before, "Life would cease to exist if everyone conducted their behavior in the same manner as homosexuals." The line has to be drawn somewhere and that is where I draw the line. The argument can be discussed in any way you want to but the bottom line is it is wrong....

[bks59]

god gives us free will, not freedom, free will by authority can exercise oppression. Our god given free will also allows us to believe in what ever God one can wrap their mind around, some, many, see a limiting, opperessive, restrictive God, others see an omnipotent loving open god that approves of any act that does not deny another of their free will.

[floydzeppl]

1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God%u2014 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.


Posted by notaliberal5 at 08:42 AM : Jun 10, 2008
----------

You just described every RINOpublican I know. Tell, how does it feel to be a Satan Worshiper?

[floydzeppl]

You''''re right, homosexuality isn''''t right, as God''''s Word clearly indicates. Yet you claim that His Word "means nothing"

Posted by notaliberal5 at 08:43 AM : Jun 10, 2008
--------

Dude, don''t pretend you know what God thinks. Really. Self-Righteousness. I am so glad that Evangelicalism is finally dying in America.

[katia327]

Yes, gay marriage will no doubt generate jobs and help the wedding service industry. But after THAT, all they''ll be generating is LEGAL fees.

The people who will benefit MOST, will be the lawyers. They''ve been rubbing their hands in glee and anticipation of this ''blessing'' of the Supreme Court.

My problem is, they overturned what the VOTERS wanted. So, why vote??

What happened to ''We the People''..??

[irliberal]

Elapsed time from article posting til the bigots showed up: 8 minutes.

Elapsed time from article posting til the religious fascists showed up: 22 minutes.

Dang, if our government was this efficient our gas would cost $1.29 a gallon! 8-)

[irliberal]

What happened to ''''We the People''''..??

Posted by Katia327 at 08:47 AM

If the majority always ruled, black people would still be slaves, women wouldn''t be able to vote at all, etc. Justice isn''t always about what the majority wants, babycakes.

-If you''''re going to claim that all those who oppose of immoral lifestyles invading our culture (like homosexuality) of being bigots, then that makes you even more of a bigot for your intolerance of the moral majority in our country who recognize the homosexual movement in our culture as a dangerous movement and threat to our nation''''s Sovereignty and laws.

Simply well said.

[irliberal]

Posted by notaliberal5 at 08:52 AM

I only a few things to say to you then I''m done.

1. Gay marriage doesn''t involve or affect you unless you want to have one.
2. If you''re straight, gay people don''t concern you in any way, so stop trying to intimidate us just because we are a minority group.
3. Doesn''t your so-called "moral majority" have something better to do? Just leave us alone already. Geesh!

All these statements and questions are rhetorical and do not require a response. Rest assured that if you do elect to give one, it will be summarily ignored, as I have better things to do. See? I can ignore you - why can''t you ignore me? (oh that was ANOTHER rhetorical question)

[gopsoccermom]

Not it wont. God will send his wrath upon our economy because he hates gay people.

[mudrose-2009]

The Democratic National Committee headed by none other than the wild screamer Howeard Dean is support Gay Pride Month. It is not known but will be after the election that the Democratic party has had 52 Congressional personnel caucusing on this very issue to present to the American People Gay Marriage. They are just waiting until after the election to force this insane redefinition of marriage on the people whether we like it or not. I have called several Senators and told them to let the cat out of the bag so that the general population knows what they are intending to do. Also re California, opponents of Gay Marriage are going back to the Appeals Court to stay what the fkkers on the SC did to California. They want this decision stayed until the people vote in November. If I hear first, I will let you all know what the Appeals Court decided. This will take place on June 16th.

[ccdsswrkr08]

Again, to those of you opposed to same *** marriages....I ask.... How the heck does it affect you? Great, you oppose it, it''s your opinion. I oppose men wearing bikini thongs, but that doesn''t mean I''m gonna go try and get it outlawed...cause it doesn''t affect me! I don''t have to look at it. Tell me ladies and gents, in you''re every day life, how does someone else''s marriage directly or indirectly affect you?

[endtimes72]

God doesn''''t hate gay people, He hates sin.

Posted by notaliberal5

and that is the correct way to put it.

[mudrose-2009]

This is what the public will get as a result of legalizing Legalizing same-*** "marriage" is not a stand-alone policy, independent of all the other activities of the state. Once governments assert that same-*** unions are the equivalent of marriage, those governments must defend and enforce a whole host of other social changes.

[mudrose-2009]

Unfortunately, these government-enforced changes conflict with a wide array of ordinary liberties, including religious freedom and ordinary private property rights.

It began with the persecution of Catholic Charities in Boston. The archdiocese eventually closed down its adoption program, because the state of Massachusetts insisted that every adoption agency in the state must allow same-*** couples to adopt.

Recently, a Methodist organization in New Jersey lost part of its tax-exempt status because it refused to allow two lesbian couples to use their facility for a civil union ceremony. In Quebec, a Mennonite school was informed that it must conform to the official provincial curriculum, which includes teaching homosexuality as an acceptable alternative lifestyle.

At last report, the Mennonites were considering leaving the province rather than permit the imposition of the state-sponsored curriculum on their children.

And recently, a wedding photographer in New Mexico faces a hearing with the state''s Human Rights Commission because she declined the business of a lesbian couple. She didn''t want to take photos of their commitment ceremony.
. . .

[mudrose-2009]

Public schools in California are soon going to be required to be "gay friendly." A doctor has been sued because she didn''t want to perform an artificial insemination on a lesbian couple. A private school is in trouble for disciplining two female students for kissing. All in the name of supporting the rights of same-*** couples to "equality" with straight couples.

The fact that opposite- and same-*** couples are different in significant ways means that there will always be scope for the state to expand its reach into more and more private areas of more and more people''s lives.

[mudrose-2009]

Maybe you believe that same-*** couples are entitled to have children, somehow. But is any doctor they might encounter required to inseminate them?

Advocates of same-*** "marriage" insist that theirs is a modest reform: a mere expansion of marriage to include people currently excluded. But the price of same-*** "marriage" is a reduction in tolerance for everyone else, and an expansion of the power of the state.

[endtimes72]

A.nti C.hristian L.ucifer U.nion came into play.

Posted by notaliberal5

i like that because little do people know they are the devil''s tool.

[mudrose-2009]

Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia has introduced the Marriage Protection Amendment of 2008 (H.J. RES. 89). This amendment would make marriage legal only between a man and a woman.

I urge all of you to Contact your Congressman and urge them to support this bill.

nutsie11 simply makes a great point about homosexuality. It''s wrong!

Thanks for standing up to what is right!

[ccdsswrkr08]

Again, it affects our culture and our nation''''s Sovereignty. It opens up the door for sin to completely take over this country and teaches children that it''''s ok to be gaaaay.

This will simply open up the door for other immoral acts to be brought into legislation. Heck, this has what has been happening in our culture ever since organizations like the A.nti C.hristian L.ucifer U.nion came into play.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by notaliberal5 at 09:07 AM : Jun 10, 2008

You''re joking right? Don''t expect society to raise YOUR children. YOU raise your children. Instill in them the values that YOU wish to, and if you do it right, then they will grow up to be good people. You cannot blame the rest of the world for your bad job as a parent. Thats the real problem with the world today. No one wants to actually parent their children, they expect everyone else to do it for them. That is what really makes me sick.

[floydzeppl]

i like that because little do people know they are the devil''''s tool.

Posted by endtimes72 at 09:09 AM : Jun 10, 2008
-------

Who? The Freakvangelicals? I''ll have to agree.

[mudrose-2009]

This will simply open up the door for other immoral acts to be brought into legislation. Heck, this has what has been happening in our culture ever since organizations like the A.nti C.hristian L.ucifer U.nion came into play.
Posted by notaliberal5

Maybe now some of you will believe me when I say George Soros is out to win a Presidency and take over America through this stupid RamaLamaObama puppet.

ACLU unveils big expansion plans for US conservative states, Soros helps fund. The campaign''s goal is $335 million, with $258 million already raised through behind-the-scenes solicitations over the past year. . . Major donors include billionaire financier George Soros, who gave $12 million . . .

www.guardian.co.uk - 06/09/2008

[genesis15-2009]

And where in that entire passage did it say that it was a sin?

It referred to it as "shameful lusts", "unnatural", and "indecent acts", but it NEVER condemned it as sin. Since it was NEVER outright condemned, nor did "god" smite them for their acts, it must be accepted.

If the sin aspect of the above has to be spelled out for you hungry1968, then your in bad shape. Did you fail reading comprehension in school and never passed it?

[floydzeppl]

The Freakvannies don''t know how good that have it here in America. They''re free to preach their False Message.

[floydzeppl]

Tghe only good thing about all of this is that its looking like Evangelicalism in America is finally dying. It''ll fade after a few years.

[mudrose-2009]

You''''re joking right? Don''''t expect society to raise YOUR children. YOU raise your children. Instill in them the values that YOU wish to, and if you do it right, then they will grow up to be good people. You cannot blame the rest of the world for your bad job as a parent. Thats the real problem with the world today. No one wants to actually parent their children, they expect everyone else to do it for them. That is what really makes me sick.
Posted by ccdsswrkr08

The Feminists don''t like us to raise our children. They don''t like families. They don''t like fathers and mothers, they prefer abortion, masculation of females, feminization of males, fkked up g/ay marriage and a society where fatherhood is a commodity to be gotten at s/perm banks and through in-vitro fertalization or the poor man''s in-vitro where g/ays get to fkked their opposites to procreate. Never mind that they have 1000 relationships over a lifetime and smack the ***** out of each other, never mind that they expose innocent children to their warped erratic lifestyle. Nah, the Feminists dreamed of this kind of relationship. Where procreation is not natural.

[mudrose-2009]

The Democratic National Committee headed by none other than the wild screamer Howeard Dean is support Gay Pride Month. It is not known but will be after the election that the Democratic party has had 52 Congressional personnel caucusing on this very issue to present to the American People Gay Marriage. They are just waiting until after the election to force this insane redefinition of marriage on the people whether we like it or not. I have called several Senators and told them to let the cat out of the bag so that the general population knows what they are intending to do. Also re California, opponents of Gay Marriage are going back to the Appeals Court to stay what the fkkers on the SC did to California. They want this decision stayed until the people vote in November. If I hear first, I will let you all know what the Appeals Court decided. This will take place on June 16th.

[floydzeppl]

Read an article the other day where the young members of the Evangelical set are turning away from their parents and grand parents message of Hate in the Name of Jesus.

Evangelicalism is finally dying.

[mudrose-2009]

Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia has introduced the Marriage Protection Amendment of 2008 (H.J. RES. 89). This amendment would make marriage legal only between a man and a woman.

Contact your Legislators and urge them to vote for this Bill.

[floydzeppl]

You''''re right, one day the Church (the true believers) will be gone and off this earth, and then you can welcome in your world leader, the anti-Christ, who will take you with him straight to hell if you follow his lead.

Posted by notaliberal5 at 09:21 AM : Jun 10, 2008
-----------

Mythology. Already happened 2000 years ago. Even Jesus himself said that the Kingdom would come in the lifetime of his Disciples.

You guys missed it. What a hoot.