Study: Same-Sex Weddings to Give California an Econimic Boost

By Marianne Russ, KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published June 9, 2008 at 12:57 PM PDT

This story was published more than 15 years ago.

A new study says same-sex weddings will provide California's economy with a substantial boost. The report comes from the Williams Institute at UCLA. Study co-author Lee Badgett says same-sex marriage

A new study says same-sex weddings will provide California's economy with a substantial boost. The report comes from the Williams Institute at UCLA. Study co-author Lee Badgett says same-sex marriage will create thousands of jobs and much needed revenue.

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Badgett: We estimate that the total increased spending will be about $684 million over the next three years. That's largely for the wedding industry so that would be hotels, caterers, wedding planners, people who sell rings, florists, photographers, that sort of things.

Badgett estimates that more than 52,000 of California's same-sex couples will marry over the next three years and another 68,000 will come from out-of-state. Starting next Monday, gay and lesbian couples can legally marry in California. Voters will decide in November whether to amend the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.