Gay Marriage Produced $259 Million For New York City Economy - Polidicks

[quote] New York City reaped $259 million of economic benefits from same-sex marriages in the first year of the law allowing the practice, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn said. At least 8,200 gay-marriage licenses were issued, accounting for more than 10 percent of the 75,000 wedding licenses issued in New York City in the past year, Bloomberg and Quinn said in a statement today, citing a survey conducted by NYC & Co., the city’s marketing and tourism office, and the city clerk’s office. New York became the sixth and most recent state to legalize gay marriage a year ago after Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, signed the measure into law. More than 200,000 guests have since traveled from outside of the city to attend same-sex wedding receptions, and more than 235,000 hotel room nights were booked at an average daily room rate of $275, according to the mayor’s statement. “Marriage equality has made our city more open, inclusive and free -- and it has also helped to create jobs and support our economy,” Bloomberg, 70, said at a news conference in Lower Manhattan. Bloomberg has focused on tourism to diversify the city’s economy beyond Wall Street, with employment in leisure and hospitality growing more than 100,000 in 10 years to 362,400 in June, according to the state Department of Labor. ‘NYC I Do’ The city attracted a record 50.5 million visitors in 2011, and Bloomberg has a 2015 goal to draw 55 million people, add 30,000 jobs and increase the industry’s economic impact to $70 billion from $48 billion last year. NYC & Co. began the “NYC I Do” marketing campaign after the same-sex marriage law passed, with a goal to make the most populous U.S. city the top wedding and honeymoon destination for couples globally. In addition to New York, same-sex marriage is legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia, according to Freedom to Marry, a New York- based national advocacy organization. Sixth State This year, the legislatures in Maryland, New Jersey and Washington state passed same-gender marriage laws that haven’t taken effect. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoed the bill, while opponents in Maryland and Washington have November ballot measures challenging the laws. Quinn, 45, who with Bloomberg lobbied the Legislature to approve same-gender marriage, benefited from the law when she wed her partner, attorney Kim Catullo, 45, on May 19 at a ceremony attended by the mayor, Cuomo, and U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. “What you can’t quantify is just the joy that has happened in New York City,” Quinn told reporters. “What better thing could government do than pass laws that make people equal, repeal laws that say some of us are unequal, and give families the opportunity to have that once-in-a-lifetime moment when a father can walk his daughter down the aisle.” New York’s mayor is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP. To contact the reporter on this story: Henry Goldman in New York at [email]hgoldman@bloomberg.net[/email] To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stephen Merelman at[/quote] [url]http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-24/gay-marriage-produced-259-million-for-new-york-city-economy-1-.html[/url] TAKE THAT MITT ROMNEY

Fabulous news

All that money won't save you from hell you godless heathens.

But but but but. Homosexuality cash is nothing compared to good 'ol Hetero cash.

[QUOTE=Fort83;36946248]Well they can't say gay marriage is ruining the country anymore, it's actually helping it.[/QUOTE] Unfortunately the same lawmakers that are blocking gay marriage also think ruining the economy is a legitimate way to get someone elected.

Why don't we just make a legal binding that gives all the benefits of marriage to people who are in love with somebody of the same gender? Gays are happy that they get their rights, Religious people that Marriage is kept a "holy matrimony"

There already is a legal binding that give all the benefits of marriage it's called marriage

[QUOTE=minilandstan;36946699]Why don't we just make a legal binding that gives all the benefits of marriage to people who are in love with somebody of the same gender? Gays are happy that they get their rights, Religious people that Marriage is kept a "holy matrimony"[/QUOTE] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_union[/url] many conservatives still don't approve (DOMA and other legislation)

[QUOTE=minilandstan;36946699]Why don't we just make a legal binding that gives all the benefits of marriage to people who are in love with somebody of the same gender? Gays are happy that they get their rights, Religious people that Marriage is kept a "holy matrimony"[/QUOTE] Because separate but equal is still a stupid idea.

[QUOTE=minilandstan;36946699]Why don't we just make a legal binding that gives all the benefits of marriage to people who are in love with somebody of the same gender? Gays are happy that they get their rights, Religious people that Marriage is kept a "holy matrimony"[/QUOTE] Because marriage isn't religious to many many people and it's just pure discrimination.

[QUOTE=minilandstan;36946699]Why don't we just make a legal binding that gives all the benefits of marriage to people who are in love with somebody of the same gender? Gays are happy that they get their rights, Religious people that Marriage is kept a "holy matrimony"[/QUOTE] Except marriage does not equal "holy matrimony" and that label has been placed by religions. Thousands of years ago, it was common to marry more than one person.

I think it's almost pretty sad that we have to justify a liberty through how much financial income it generates. Just let people do what they want.

good. if there's anything politicians love more than protecting their weird idea of the sanctity of marriage, its money

[QUOTE=Fort83;36946248]Well they can't say gay marriage is ruining the country anymore, it's actually helping it.[/QUOTE] B...but what about the children and God's wrath?

wrath us all night long baby mmm~

[QUOTE=minilandstan;36946699]Why don't we just make a legal binding that gives all the benefits of marriage to people who are in love with somebody of the same gender? Gays are happy that they get their rights, Religious people that Marriage is kept a "holy matrimony"[/QUOTE] As long as we call it marriage and tell the radical bible thumpers that want to turn America into a theocracy to fuck off I'm all on board.

Must be a slow news day.

DAMN THESE GAYS! First they want equal rights and to be allowed to marry... NOW THEY WANT TO SUPPORT OUR ECONOMY! NO MEANS NO! You keep your filthy money! In all seriousness, if more states allow this just for the money I will be a bit sad. It should be legal for the obvious reasons that, who cares if its two men or two women... They are still humans! [editline]27th July 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=RichyZ;36947887]fuck the children, literally, make children prostitutes also, tax the church if he wants to wrath us, then he can wrath us all he wants[/QUOTE] I believe the bible says you are allowed to sell your daughter into prostitution... So, win/win really.

"Gay Marriage is bad for the economy." -Every conservative

[QUOTE=Boba_Fett;36946796]I think it's almost pretty sad that we have to justify a liberty through how much financial income it generates. Just let people do what they want.[/QUOTE] that and environmental issues

[QUOTE=minilandstan;36946699]Why don't we just make a legal binding that gives all the benefits of marriage to people who are in love with somebody of the same gender? Gays are happy that they get their rights, Religious people that Marriage is kept a "holy matrimony"[/QUOTE] This argument was used when the law-makers were deciding if people of colour could marry whites.. They thought that a separate "Civil Unity" would keep marriage sacred and make the others happy. It's just history repeating itself, you cannot afford rights to one group because of preference, then deny them to another group because of characteristics. Marriage is a social contract, not a religious one.

now heres a good election strategy, "A vote against gay marriage is a vote against the economy"

So... uhhh.... this whole end of the world thing, because of gay marriage is suddenly looking 259 million dollars better.

[QUOTE=viperfan7;36953507]now heres a good election strategy, "A vote against gay marriage is a vote against the economy"[/QUOTE] If this is the case, doesn't that mean that Conservatives are directly hurting the economy because of religious beliefs?