The legalization of gay marriage has
boosted Iowa's economy, a new study from the California-based
Williams
Institute has found.
According to the study, the weddings of
gay and lesbian couples added between $12 and $13 million to the Iowa
economy in the first 12 months since it was legalized in April of
2009. State and local tax coffers increased by an estimated $850,000
to $930,000 from the weddings.
At least 2,099 such weddings took place
in the first year, 1,233 of which were between out-of-state gay
couples.
“It is possible that out-of-state
same-sex couples spent up to an additional $1.6 million on tourism
during their brief stay in Iowa,” the report's authors said.
Troy Price, executive director of One
Iowa, the state's largest gay rights advocate, said in a statement
that the study showed that marriage equality has a positive impact.
“The Williams Institute report
demonstrates once again that marriage equality has had, and continues
to have, only a positive impact on our state,” said Price.
“Our opponents continue to try and
take away marriage equality and erase the financial impact that
marriage has on our communities and our state. But it begs the
question – at a time when people are looking for work and every
Iowan is hoping for stronger economic growth, why would we pass a
discriminatory constitutional amendment that would hurt not only
loving and committed gay and lesbian couples, but our fragile economy
as well?” Price added, referring to Republican-led efforts to place
a gay marriage ban in the Iowa Constitution.