Study: Gay marriages pump $111 million into Mass

[Enrique]

Source: Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/17/study_gay_marriages_pump_111_million_into_mass?mode=PF

Study: Gay marriages pump $111 million into Mass

May 17, 2009

AMHERST, Mass. --A study says the over 12,000 same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts since 2004 have pumped over $111 million into the state's economy.

The report from the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law says a typical same-sex couple spent about $7,400 on their wedding, with one in ten couples spending over $20,000.

A second study by the same group found that young, highly educated people in same-sex relationships were 2.5 times more likely to move to Massachusetts after 2004 than before gay marriage became legal.

M.V. Lee Badgett, a researcher at the University of Massachusetts and a study co-author, says allowing gay couples to marry has helped businesses in tough economic times.

Sunday marks the five-year anniversary of Massachusetts recording its first same-sex marriage licenses.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/17/study_gay_marriages_pump_111_million_into_mass?mode=PF

[Happyhippychick]

1. Yes but how many marriages were ruined because of gay marriage?

:sarcasm:

[and-justice-for-all]

9. Kazillions I am sure....nt

[BR_Parkway]

13. Newt's, Limbaugh's, Larry Craig's, Ted Haggard's - I'm sure a whole host of others

that I can't name right now. Charlie Crist's sometime in the future more than likely

Oh wait, a few of those were gays who married women to hide in the closet - I guess the rest of us aren't to blame after all

[nichomachus]

14. Which one of their marriages???

I mean, Rush has had three. So has Newt. I think Craig has been married twice. Dunno about Haggard. So, did same sex marriages ruin just one of Rush's marriages, or was it all three -- or is it just the fact that Rush is a disgusting pig?

[CLANG]

22. mINE WAS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED BY THE GAY

:sarcasm:

[Happyhippychick]

25. You mean teh gay

:)

[CLANG]

32. Sorry, I get kinda anal about spelling sometimes!

[Tesha]

50. Well, if statistics hold up, something like 43% of gay marriages will be ruined by gay marriage.

But Massachusetts has a noticeably lower divorce rate than other
states (the lowest in the nation, in fact) so it's likely that fewer
than 43% of gay marriages will be ruined.

(Yes, I realize you were joking. So am I, lame though the joke
may be.)

Tesha

[Christa]

51. On the other hand

how many sexual fantasies are fulfilled with the mere idea of girl on girl?

Not that the bigots will ever acknowledge it.

[stillcool]

2. I saw a news thing yesterday I think..

about couples returning to celebrate their anniversaries. History being made, one state at a time. So cool.

[imdjh]

3. Can you imagine what an equal rights law would do for Florida?

I have written to many state politicians, Democratic and Republican, to point out what would happen if a state with a good climate and beaches were to be amongst the first to pass comprehensive gay rights laws. I have pointed out the economics of it- gay people coming from all over the country and buying houses in our bargain priced market. I have pointed out that unlike many influxes, this one isn't likely to generate a demand for new school construction in outlying suburbs, and that it's likely to generate urban renewal. No response. None, other than the form letter thanking me for writing.

[Enrique]

4. God would punish us with hurricanes

and alligators. ;-)

[No Elephants]

40. Maybe next time, try adding

P.S. And this will help you get re-elected again and again and again.

[murielm99]

5. Go tell it to that Steele character.

He thinks gay marriage will be bad for small businesses.

[No Elephants]

41. I don't think he really thinks that. It's the Republican Party, trying to

re-tool their message "without sacrificing their principles."

Put another way

Same bigotry, different reasons.

They can't win without the neo theos, yet the neo theo base is not sufficient to give them elections amd the neo theo message turns off others.


They are rying to keep the neo theo base without alienating everyone else by re-messaging.


Lipstick on an elephant.

[pattmarty]

6. Oh jeez, do we all still hate gay marriage????

:sarcasm:

[2Design]

7. I realized the other day that the more this all comes out in the light

that there are a huge number of gay people in the World - just did not know - nice that they are getting equal rights in some states and some countries and hopefully in all soon

[and-justice-for-all]

8. OK!! We came, We married and WE SHOPPED!! nt

[redwitch]

16. Great bumper sticker material!

:-)

[AndyTiedye]

10. Has Anyone Tallied How much Proposition H8 Is Costing California?

California was getting a good bit of economic stimulus of this kind until those assholes passed proposition h8.
Somebody should point out how much this little bit of hatefulness is costing us.

[nichomachus]

15. Probably true -- but we shouldn't rely on this as an argument

A lot of people who went to Mass were from other states, so other states wouldn't expect to see such an amount of income.

However, the real reason is that the ban on same-sex marriage is wrong is because it's freaking wrong. It's really not an economic matter. Same-sex marriage should be allowed even if it didn't bring a cent into the state.

It's like saying torture is wrong, because waterboards cost so much.

[AndyTiedye]

34. Of Course You and I Know That

But the Repiggies don't believe it, and if we can't convince them, at least we can show them how much money their bigotry is costing them.

[No Elephants]

42. Correct., but it's lovely when doing good results in doing well. I believe that is

true, more often that not. Another part of me fears that I am only naive, though.

[JerseygirlCT]

17. I imagine what didn't happen is a harder number to target.

But I agree it would be very, very interesting.

And you bet that smart business people are looking at the market and trying to figure out how to make the most of it.

Marriage equality is here in CT, too - and I expect to see many more invitations extended by businesses to the gay community. All to the good, whatever the motivation, I think!

[liberalmuse]

11. Maybe Wall Street should allow gay marriage.

LOL, I guess Steele was right yet again. :eyes:

[Mari333]

12. money talks, bullshit walks

if theres money to be made, watch how fast states will backtrack and pass gay marriage rights.

[xchrom]

18. recommend

[gmoney]

19. OH, you said MASS...

[Endangered Specie]

29. ahahaha, nice one.

[AnnieBW]

20. Take THAT, California!

What was it that they said in that musical about Prop 8 - whenever gays marry, there's money to be made!

[ooglymoogly]

21. Gay marriage = bocups de bucks....Leagalization of maryjane = bocups

de bucks....The first states to realize this will come out smelling like a rose while the rest sink in a sewer of hate and meanness where they fuk'n belong.

[No Elephants]

43. Massachusetts also "decriminalized" possession of small amouns of mj. No tax yet, though.

[MADem]

55. The "tax" is the ticket they give you (hundred bucks or so, I think) if they catch ya. nt

[tanyev]

23. Ironic. Usually Republicans are all in favor of anything that brings in money.

[beac]

31. I think this one falls into the same logical whiplash category as their

pro-life/pro-death penalty stance.

[Skittles]

37. pro-life / pro-senseless war

:puke:

[beac]

48. fiscally conservative/deficits don't matter

pro-"small government"/wished for "Department of Christian Morals Enforcement"


It's amazing they aren't all walking around in neck braces, really.

[AlbertCat]

24. Pump it, baby, pump it....

You don't have to have Gay marriage....just being gay FRIENDLY is helpful! Of course having and recognizing gay marriage would seem to corner the market for people to actually move and live there.

Y'know...I've always wondered how much money the Caribbean looses every year because of its general hostility toward gays. I mean, Imagine the money Jamaica could make!

I thought it'd be fun to get a bunch of gay couples and take over a Sandels... y'know, like bikers take over a bar?

[KamaAina]

26. "The spirit of Massachusetts is the spirit of America..."

an old tourism jingle for the Bay State from the '90s.

Let us hope that the groundswell of equality that started in Mass. and has now nearly covered all New England will make its way to the rest of us really soon.

[MADem]

38. The spirit of what's old and what's new!!!!!

Ask these visitors from Quahog, RI:

http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/danielawesome12/?action=view¤t=peterssong_0001.flv

[KamaAina]

53. Ah yes, Quahog. One of my favorite towns.

There's this really cool dude who lives over on Spooner St. Thing is, he's a dog... :-)

[MADem]

54. Ah, yes, Brian!!!! Helluva fellah, helluva fellah!!! nt

[W_HAMILTON]

27. The Free Market has spoken.

:)

[theaocp]

28. Drum roll, please...

...the biggest "duh" in the universe! It's the same as the morons that didn't want to subject their children to "Gay Ski Week" when i lived and worked in Aspen ... the money, class, and fun times just rolled on in and the jackasses stayed the hell away. And that's just fine by me. Suck on it, fundies.

[beac]

30. It's teh gay WMD-- a money bomb!

Good for you, Massachusetts!!! Your courage on this issue earned you every penny! :applause:

[ShadowLiberal]

33. Soon all the New England states will be raking in extra cash from gay marriage

Unfortunately for places like Maine & Vermont they probably won't get as much of an economic benefit from legalizing gay marriage, because some of their gay couples probably already married in other states that allow it.

Iowa however will surely benefit a lot more economically from gay marriage, as you can't very easily drive to Massachusetts or other states that allow gay marriage from there.

[cosmicone]

35. This is nothing as compared to

what same sex divorces will bring to the economy hahaha. Divorces are a lot costlier than weddings!

[No Elephants]

46. Sadly,equal divorces in Massachusetts began less than 7 months after equal marriage began. What

made me really sad was that the very first gay couple to marry in Massachusetts--and therefore in the United States--divorced. They were also one of the seven couples in the court case that ended with recognition of gay marriage. They married in 2004 and announced their divorce in July 2006. http://www.totaldivorce.com/news/articles/society/first-gay-couple-married-file-for-divorce.aspx

[Divine Discontent]

36. seriously - the LOUD minority against Gay rights needs to STFU because

when presented with reality on the issue of Gay marriage/unions - there's nothing to be afraid of, and they're simply afraid for no damn good reason and all but 2 of my Christian friends (so about a dozen others) all support Gay marriage/unions and could you IMAGINE how many BILLIONS a year the following would bring to states and small businesses - Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays of your partner, home purchases, home furnishings, home insurance, vacations, and ON AND ON AND ON!!!!


http://www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable.289024327

[drm604]

39. How long till some of the big corporations get behind this movement?

All those additional marriages.

All those additional banquets, hotels, music, gift purchases, invitation purchases, wedding clothing, travel and hotel reservations, etc.

I can see where the business base could be at odds with the "values" base over this issue. :evilgrin:

[No Elephants]

44. Those industries and others, like travel, have been advertising for many years as gay friendly.

[No Elephants]

45. The figure of $111 million over 5 years statewide is not a lot. However, it probably vastly under-

states the real economic benefit. A wedding does not involve only a wedding. There are hotel stays for the couple and their guests. There are honeymoons for those who have traveled in from other states. And, if couples are moving here, there are property taxes and other direct and indirect benefits to the economy--new businesses, jobs for both teh gay and teh heteros, and so on.

But, I agree with the posters who have said you don't do this because of economic benefit. You do it because any other than equal rights for all humans is just evil.

Still, having yet another reason to point at Steele and laugh ain't nuthin'.

[4_TN_TITANS]

47. One way to get conservatives attention...

Present something from the viewpoint of revenue potential, when in reality it's about others pursuit of happiness.

[progressoid]

49. You said "pumped"

[IdaBriggs]

52. HEY! I said this back in 2004!!!

And its in the General Discussion Archives, too!

Guess I'm a genius -- or just a very common sense person.

Sigh. :)