NYC Mayor Says Gay Marriage Boosts City’s Economy by $259 Million in 1 Year

Same-sex marriage has proven a boon to New York City’s economy. In just one year, gay marriages have boosted the Big Apple’s economy by more than a quarter billion dollars.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a statement on Wednesday in which he claimed that same-sex marriage, which was legalized statewide last June, has added a whopping $259 million to the city’s coffers in just one year.

At least 8,200 same-sex marriage licenses were issued in New York City last year, more than 10 percent of the 75,000 total licenses issued. According to the City Clerk’s Office and NYC & Company, the city’s official marketing and tourism organization, all those gay weddings brought in $16 million in direct revenue.

Additionally,

* The cost of each New York City gay wedding averaged more than $9,000.

* Nearly 300,000 people attended same-sex weddings in the city.

* More than 275,000 hotel rooms were booked in the city, at an average rate of $275 per night.

“Marriage equality has made our city more open, inclusive and free,” said Mayor Bloomberg in his statement. “It has also helped create jobs and support our economy.”

In order to promote the Big Apple as a gay wedding destination around the world, NYC & Company launched the ‘NYC I Do’ campaign just after same-sex marriage was legalized last year. The campaign has been a great success, as gay and lesbian couples continue to flock to the city to say “I do” by the thousands.

Some 3,898 male couples and 3,286 female couples tied the knot in New York City in 2011.

New York is one of only six states where same-sex couples enjoy marriage equality. The others are Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa and Massachusetts. Gay marriage is also legal in Washington, DC as well as in the Squamish and Coquille Native American tribes.

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