Same-sex marriages could help boost economy in Washington

By Kirsten Krumrey Mar 25, 2010, 4:06 GMT

Washington - A new law in Washington, DC that allows same- sex couples to marry could have a positive effect on the economy of the US capital, experts say.

About 100 gay couples were the first to take advantage of the new law in the first week of March at the city courthouse in Washington and at the office of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights advocacy group. The city council approved the law in December and attempts by opponents to block it were turned down in court.

Same-sex marriage has been a highly contentious social issue in the US for years, pitting gay rights advocates against conservative religious groups and other opponents. Five of 50 US states allow same sex marriage: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

It also has been a major topic in California. Efforts to legalize it there failed when it was placed on a state-wide ballot in 2008.

Advocates are now putting the spotlight on the business of weddings, pointing out that the cost of the ceremonies can be profitable for many businesses, including jewellery stores, flower shops, photographers and party services.

It could also prove a boon for tourism, according to the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California Los Angeles dedicated to the study of sexual orientation law.

Some couples have waited as long as 20 years to marry, said Michael Kress, a photographer whose business is located in the Washington suburb of Bethesda. They don't want to miss their opportunity, he said, adding that he expects an increase in business at his studio as a result of the Washington law.

He already has bookings coming in from gay couples who want their ceremony photographed. Other wedding services have similar stories.

The Williams Institute estimates that, in the next three years, the amount of money spent in shops and on travel related to the weddings of same-sex couples will total 52.2 million dollars in Washington. Other institutes expect a similarly high increase in revenue for the city, which has one of largest homosexual populations in the United States.

Millions of dollars will be spent on same-sex weddings - money that wouldn't enter into the economy without the new law, said MV Lee Badgett, research director at the Williams Institute.

The institute estimates that not only 2,000 same-sex couples who live in Washington will tie the knot there, but it also predicts that an additional 12,000 homosexual couples from other parts of the US will stream into the city to get married. Washington stands to reap 5 million dollars in taxes alone as a result of the new law.

Photographers such as Kress are trying to find ways to take advantage of the expected upswing in business. His and other wedding- related services are sponsoring a drawing at the website Freedom 2 Wed that will give a lucky same-sex couple a free dream wedding. Included are rings, the ceremony, decorations and catering - an all- inclusive package.

Kress also wants to use the contest to make a statement against discrimination. Interested couples must submit an essay and a short video showing what makes them special, he said. Kress also plans to change his photography business' website to show wedding photos not only of heterosexual couples, but also of homosexual couples as soon as his team has photographed some same-sex ceremonies.

Market strategists, however, warn that the reaction from customers to same-sex weddings could be mixed. They point out that opponents of same-sex marriage could boycott businesses that support it.