Gay Marriage is Good. But a Key to It's Success is Future Corporate Profits

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http://www.alternet.org/economy/surprising-way-gay-marriage-helps-everyone



Gay marriage changes everything, enhancing our commitment to fairness and tolerance, and removing the stigma from the natural human desire for commitment. Such developments are positive and profound. But one thing hasn’t changed: when two people who have resources to spend come together, it’s a boon to the whole economy.

Florida has banned same-sex marriage, and the state is currently waiting to see if the U.S. Supreme Court will deem that move unconstitutional. Meanwhile, a new study by UCLA’s Williams Institute reveals that Florida’s economy could get a turbo-charge to the tune of millions by allowing gay Americans to tie the knot. The report estimates that over 24,000 same-sex couples would get married over the next three years if given the opportunity, which could mean a $182.2 million infusion to the state’s economy. That’s $117 million in the first year alone. The money comes from tax revenue when couples file jointly, marriage license fees, and sales tax from weddings, celebrations and tourism.

Gay marriage brings jobs, too, the report shows. All those cakes, photographers, wedding planners, and tourist services could generate as many as 2,626 jobs for Floridians in need of work.

And those estimates are conservative, say authors E.G. Fitzgerald, Christy Mallory and M.V. Lee Badgett: "In other words, all assumptions are cautious and, given the range of possibilities, likely produce revenue impacts on the lower bound," they write in the summary of their study.