Allowing gay and lesbian couples to
marry in Oregon would generate $47.3 million over 3 years and
generate 468 new jobs in the state, a study released Tuesday
concludes.
According to the Williams
Institute, an independent think tank at UCLA Law, extending
marriage to gay couples would boost Oregon's economy.
Researchers looked at 2010 U.S. Census
data to estimate that 5,887 couples – 50 percent of the state's
11,773 same-sex couples – would marry in the first three years of
legalization and that couples would on average spend $6,399 per
wedding.
Spending and tourism related to the
weddings would also generate approximately 468 new jobs in Oregon
over the first three years.
The group's estimates do not include
revenue generated from the weddings of gay couples from other states
who travel to Oregon to marry, though two of Oregon's neighbors –
California and Washington – allow such unions.
A federal judge will hear oral
arguments next week in a case challenging Oregon's marriage ban.
(Related: Oregon
backers ask court to spare voters costly gay marriage fight.)