Maine inkeeps say gay marriage could save industry

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(Augusta, Maine) With the nation in the grip of an economic crisis that is threatening tourism across the country, Maine’s inns, tourism agencies, and the wedding industry say legalizing same-sex marriage in the state could save them from disaster.

A bill that would repeal Maine’s so-called Defense of Marriage law which bars same-sex marriage and a bill that would make marriage gender-neutral will be considered this year in the State House.

Industry representatives this week began a lobbying campaign to support the legislation and have begun meetings with lawmakers.

They point to a recent study by the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California Los Angeles that found extending marriage to same-sex couples would boost Maine’s economy by $60 million over three years, which would generate increases in state and local government tax and fee revenues by almost $3.6 million.

“Judging from the experience of other states that have extended marriage and civil unions to same-sex couples, such as Massachusetts and Vermont, approximately half of the 4,644 same-sex couples living in Maine, or 2,316 couples, will marry in the next three years,” the study said.

“In addition, approximately 15,657 same-sex couples from other states will come to Maine to marry. These couples will primarily come from New York, where they are likely to have their marriages recognized, and from states in the immediate Northeast region,” the Institute found.


http://www.365gay.com/news/maine-inkeeps-say-gay-marriage-could-save-industry/

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