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Alison Kosik
New York

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Alison Kosik
New York

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Gay marriage has become a huge political issue. But for those states that allow it, it's big business. Alison Kosik reports.
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IT'S MORE THAN JUST A QUESTION OF LOVE OR POLITICS... THE FACT IS THAT STATES THAT LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE GET A BIG BOOST TO THEIR ECONOMIES.
EARLIER THIS WEEK-- PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID HE SUPPORTS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. IF MORE STATES MAKE IT LEGAL, WE COULD HAVE A WEDDING BOOM ON OUR HANDS.
ACCORDING TO NUMBERS COMPILED BY U-C-L-A. THERE ARE CLOSE 650-THOUSAND SAME-SEX COUPLES IN THE UNITED STATES.
BUT SO FAR-- ONLY A FRACTION HAVE WALKED DOWN THE AISLE.
COUPLES -- BOTH GAY AND STRAIGHT -- SPEND ABOUT 27-THOUSAND DOLLARS ON AVERAGE ON THEIR BIG DAY.
AND IF MORE GAY COUPLES ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOOK VENUES, ORDER WEDDING CAKES AND PAY FOR MARRIAGE LICENSES-- THE $74-BILLION WEDDING INDUSTRY COULD GET A REAL JOLT.
SO FAR-- ONLY 7 STATES HAVE LEGALIZED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. AND THEIR ECONOMIES ARE REAPING THE BENEFITS.
THE MOVE ADDED ABOUT $110-MILLION TO THE MASSACHUSETTS ECONOMY IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
AND NEW YORK IS EXPECTING EVEN MORE THAN THAT IN JUST THE FIRST THREE YEARS.
SO FROM A PURELY ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, EXPERTS SAY THAT ANY STATE THAT GIVES GAY COUPLES THE OKAY TO MARRY CAN EXPECT A WINDFALL.
I'M ALISON KOSIK IN NEW YORK.
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