Gay Marriage: It's About Money

International News, By Joal, 15th January, 2010

Gay marriage isn’t just about love – it’s also about the money, according to an economist testifying in the battle for same-sex marriage in California.

AFP reports that Edmund Egan, director of San Francisco’s Office of Economic Analysis, says same-sex marriage would make money for the city, and the state of California.

Testifying in a federal court case that may overturn Proposition 8, Egan estimates same-sex marriage will increase money spent on weddings in the city by as much as $21 million.

Egan also said legalising same-sex partnerships would mean less spending on health care for the city and increased taxes.

“The long-term cost of discrimination weakens people’s productivity in the workforce,” said Egan, citing studies that show married couples are happier, live longer and make more money.

“Higher productivity leads to higher wages and higher wages lead to higher payroll taxes for the city,” said Egan.

The trial began four days ago and could decide the fate of same-sex marriage in California and across the US.

Anti-gay marriage campaigners drew criticism before the trial when they requested footage and images from the trial not be televised. Court judges agreed not to televise the trial due to intense public debate surrounding the issue and the harm that may come to those who testify.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, 138,000 comments from the public were recorded on the decision to televise, and all but 32 were in favour.

Banning gay marriage through Proposition 8 is unconstitutional, according to pro-marriage campaigners. The Economist reports that the lawyers arguing in favour of gay-marriage, David Boies and Theodore Olson, will argue that citizen’s rights cannot be removed by majority vote and that laws motivated by homophobia are also unconstitutional.