The economic implications of Gay marriage are a big deal.... congrads to my gay friends
1. Projected spending on gay weddings with legalization
Many states where same-sex marriage is legal have seen an economic boost as couples plan their unions. But this increase doesn’t predict future spending because marriage rates for the first couple of years after legalization are inflated due to pent-up demand.
Additionally, many of the initial marriages were planned quickly and performed at a courthouse. When same-sex marriage has been legal for several years, our assumption is couples will be able to spend more time planning their weddings, and they spend more money on the ceremony.
Our analysis looks at the long-term demand and the average cost of a same-sex wedding in each state. The result is a model for states when same-sex marriage is the norm.
Total economic impact
$2,537,757,118.................................http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/cities/economics/economic-impact-gay-marriage-2-5-billion-question/
2. Economic savings for gay marriage
Same-sex couples should have access to the same benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. There are 1,138 benefits, rights and protections available to married couples in federal law alone, according to a General Accounting Office assessment made in 2004.
[86] Benefits only available to married couples include hospital visitation during an illness, the option of filing a joint tax return to reduce a tax burden, access to family health coverage, US residency and family unification for partners from another country, and bereavement leave and inheritance rights if a partner dies. [6] [95] Married couples also have access to protections if the relationship ends, such as child custody, spousal or child support, and an equitable division of property.
[93] Married couples in the US armed forces are offered health insurance and other benefits unavailable to domestic partners. [125] The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the US Department of Labor also recognize married couples, for the purpose of granting tax, retirement and health insurance benefits. [126] The US federal government does not grant equivalent benefits to gay couples in civil unions or domestic partnerships. [153] [154]
An Oct. 2, 2009 analysis by the New York Times estimated that same-sex couples denied marriage benefits will incur an additional $41,196 to $467,562 in expenses over their lifetimes compared with married heterosexual couples. [7] A Jan. 2014 analysis published by the Atlantic concluded that unmarried women pay up to one million dollars more over their lifetimes than married women for healthcare, taxes, and other expenses. [94]
http://gaymarriage.procon.org/
3.Overview of Federal Benefits Granted to Married Couples
There are 1,138 benefits, rights and protections provided on the basis of marital status in Federal law. In June 2013, the Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. v. Windsor struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which excluded same-sex married couples from recognition for all federal benefits and programs [1]. Because of this ruling, same-sex married couples across the country have been recognized for federal purposes for the first time. However, the persistent patchwork of state marriage laws continues to stand in the way of many couples fully accessing the federal benefits they have earned including Social Security and Veterans Benefits.
The following is a summary of several categories of federal laws contingent upon marital status.
Social Security
Social Security provides the sole means of support for some disabled and retired Americans. Every worker contributes to this program through payroll tax, and receives payments upon retirement. Surviving spouses are eligible to receive Social Security payments. A surviving spouse caring for a deceased employee’s minor child is also eligible for an additional support payment. These benefits are only available to married same-sex couples living in states that recognize their marriage. This means that many couples will be denied access to these lifeline benefits simply because of their zip code. For example,, a married lesbian couple living in a non-marriage state would receive drastically unequal benefits despite contributing to the system over their lifetime............... much more at the link
http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/an-overview-of-federal-rights-and-protections-granted-to-married-couples
economic justice and social justice go hand in hand
congrads to all for this............ remember our fight against proposition 8?