Same-Sex Marriage Could Have Major Economic Impact in D.C.

by Michael Jones · 2009-04-11 18:55:00 UTC
Topics:

D.C. Marriage

The Williams Institute at UCLA has been at the forefront of analyzing the economic impact of same-sex marriage.  They've conducted studies that show significant windfalls of cash for states that recognize same-sex marriage, finding that states like Maine could stand to gain up to $60 million in revenue by enacting marriage equality, or Vermont, which the Williams Institute now says will gain upwards of $31 million in state income with its decision last week to legalize same-sex marriage.

This month, the Williams Institute is out with a study on Washington, D.C., and what it would mean for the District's economic forecast if it were to legalize same-sex marriage.  Hint: Boatloads of money.  And the study comes on the heels of D.C.'s city council unanimously voting to recognize same-sex marriages from other states, and Mayor Adrian Fenty's pledge that same-sex marriage will happen inside the Beltway.

According to the report:

  • D.C. would gain almost $53 million in revenue over the next three years, if it enacts marriage equality;

  • Approximately 700 new jobs would be created in D.C. if same-sex marriage is legalized;

  • An estimated 12,500 same-sex couples would come to D.C. to get married, if the District allows gay and lesbian couples to wed;

  • Spending on weddings by same-sex couples in D.C. would generate about $4.8 million in sales tax revenues and hotel tax revenues;

  • Weddings by local and non-resident same-sex couples would likely generate upwards of $650,000 in marriage license fees for D.C.

Given these economic indicators, who in the world would be against same-sex marriage in the nation's capital?  There are no economic reasons to be against same-sex marriage, pure and simple.  So not only does marriage equality make sense from a civil rights and human rights perspective, it's also the financially prudent decision for a state (or in this case, D.C.) to take.

(Photo courtesy of ScubaBen's Photostream at Flickr.)

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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