What else can we legalize to help the economy?
A front page explains why DC鈥檚 legalization of gay marriage has been good for the DC economy:
As the on Tuesday, the city is in the national spotlight as a pioneer in the gay-rights movement. But local officials say the historic event also has more practical implications for a city grappling with 12 percent unemployment: jobs. A study by the nonprofit Williams Institute predicted that legalizing same-sex marriage will create 700 jobs and contribute $52.2 million over three years to the local economy.
鈥淲e think it鈥檚 a great opportunity to capitalize on groups that will be coming to Washington,鈥� said Elliott Ferguson, chief executive of Destination D.C., the city鈥檚 tourism and marketing arm. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the nation鈥檚 capital. It鈥檚 symbolic.鈥�
Businesses are already lining up to cater to what Forbes estimated is a $16.8 billion national market. A local restaurant answered the phone Tuesday with 鈥淗appy gay marriage day.鈥�
Organizers of the city鈥檚 first gay and lesbian wedding expo, planned for spring at the Renaissance Hotel in Dupont Circle, said hotels were jockeying to host the expo 鈥� a dramatic change from the days when hotels were reluctant to put signs with same-sex couples鈥� names in the lobby.
It makes great sense to me. I know from just casual observation that some of the nicest parts of Rehoboth Beach, DE, with the most beautiful (and pricey) homes, are the parts known to have a high concentration of gay homeowners. This may be stereotyping, but gay people do seem to like to shop (certainly more than the average run-of-the-mill heterosexual male who is one half of most 鈥渃ouples鈥�), and they do seem to have above-average taste and style. So legalizing gay marriage means there will be some unusually tasteful and stylish (and probably expensive) weddings, honeymoons, home furnishings, etc. Good for the economy, for sure. And because there鈥檚 this thing called the sales tax (which is 鈥�10% for restaurant meals, meaning wedding receptions!), gay marriage will be good for government budgets as well.
It reminds me of the economic argument I鈥檝e heard for . And I think when ended, that was probably pretty good for the economy, too. I mean, where would all that Super Bowl commercial revenue come from if it weren鈥檛 for (legal) beer?
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