Politics & Government
Same-Sex Marriage an Economic Boon to NYC, Bloomberg Says
But on the one-year anniversary of the Marriage Equality Act, Prospect Heights merchants are mixed on how it has affected their bottom line.
In the year since the , the Big Apple has seen an estimated $259 million in economic impact, according to a joint news release by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
“Marriage equality has made our City more open, inclusive and free—and it has also helped to create jobs and support our economy,” said Bloomberg in the release.
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Since the Marriage Equality Act took effect on July 24 last year, the city has issued 8,200 same-sex marriage licenses, more than 10 percent of the 75,000 total, according to the release. Including 112 . (See our photos from .)
In addition, 67 percent of the same-sex couples held wedding receptions in the five boroughs, with about 296,500 guests, 201,600 of them traveling from outside of the city and booking approximately 235,900 hotel room nights, according to the relase.
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Miriam Milord, owner of on Washington Avenue, a custom cake design shop, said she’s definitely received more orders from same-sex couples.
“In the last six months we’ve definitely made one (cake) every month, and we’ve also had a bunch of orders for same sex couples for baby showers,” she said.
"I wouldn't say it's helped business, but it's an area we can explore," she added.
But Mike Sclafani, owner of , a flower and skate shop on Park Place at Classon Avenue, said so far, the law hasn’t affected him.
“It hasn’t really made a difference,” he said. “We have a same-sex marriage next month and it’s the first one we’ve done.”
BY THE NUMBERS:
Since the Marriage Equality Act took effect on July 24 last year there were:
Same-sex marriage licenses issued in NYC: 8,200
Total marriage licenses issued: 75,000
Percentage of same-sex couples receiving licenses that held wedding receptions in NYC: 67
Guests at same-sex wedding receptions: 296,500
Hotel room nights booked for same-sex weddings: 235,900
Couples who chose to identify their sexual identity on marriage license applications: 65,191
Heterosexual couples: 58,136
Same-sex couples: 7,184
Male couples: 3,898
Female couples: 3,286
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