Same-Sex Marriage Will Boost Economy By $166 Million

As states approve marriage equality, they are also enhancing their bottom lines.

The Williams Institute at UCLA Law reported Monday that wedding spending by same-sex couples in the three newest states to approve gay marriage may generate more than $166 million over the next three years.

The Institute estimates that same-sex couples in Maine will collectively spend $15.5 million, Maryland couples will spend $62.6 million and Washingtonians will spend $88.5 million on weddings. The estimates are based on 2010 U.S. Census data and each state’s average wedding spending. The researchers assumed that half of the states’ same-sex couples (that’s nearly 18,000 of about 35,000 gay couples in all three states combined) will marry within three years.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.