Gay and lesbian couples made up more
than 10 percent of New York City's marriage licenses in the past year
since the state legalized gay nuptials.
New York's marriage equality law went
into effect on July 24, 2011.
Officials said yesterday that roughly
8,200 licenses have gone to gay couples, generating $259 million for
the city's economy and $16 million in taxes.
“Marriage equality has made our city
more open, inclusive and free – and it has also helped to create
jobs and support our economy,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during
a press conference. “New York has always been a great place to get
married and since the passage of the Marriage Equality Act, we're
welcoming more and more couples, their families and friends from
around the country and the world.”
“I hope people who think that
marriage equality was somehow going to cause the end of the world see
it has done quite the opposite. It has put people to work,” said
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. “But what you can't quantify
is just the joy that has happened in New York City.”
Quinn
married her wife Kim Catullo in May.