[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/gay-marriage-means-money-in-iowa-and-marriage-equality-heads-back-to-maines-ballot\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/gay-marriage-means-money-in-iowa-and-marriage-equality-heads-back-to-maines-ballot\/","headline":"Gay Marriage Means Money in Iowa and Marriage Equality Heads Back to Maine\u2019s Ballot","name":"Gay Marriage Means Money in Iowa and Marriage Equality Heads Back to Maine\u2019s Ballot","description":"By Jason Carson Wilson Marriage equality makes money\u2014in Iowa. California-based Williams Institute discovered same-sex weddings and tourism pumped nearly $13 million into the state\u2019s economy...","datePublished":"2011-12-08","dateModified":"2021-06-21","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"Equally Wed","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/","identifier":787,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/julie-stephanie-two-brides-lilia-ahner.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/julie-stephanie-two-brides-lilia-ahner.jpg","height":267,"width":400},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/gay-marriage-means-money-in-iowa-and-marriage-equality-heads-back-to-maines-ballot\/","about":["Marriage Equality News"],"wordCount":274,"articleBody":" By Jason Carson WilsonMarriage equality makes money\u2014in Iowa. California-based Williams Institute discovered same-sex weddings and tourism pumped nearly $13 million into the state\u2019s economy in 2009 and 2010, the Huffington Post reports.Visiting couples contributed $2.2 million. The institute also found Iowa reaped more than $900,000 in taxes. Nearly 2,100 couples took advantage of the right to marry, after gay marriage became legal in April 2009.One Iowa Executive Director Troy Price believes marriage equality\u2019s economic impact speaks volumes.“Marriage equality has had, and continues to have, only a positive impact on our state,” Price said in a statement.Price said opponents remain committed to ending marriage equality. Erasing marriage equality\u2019s economic benefit is the method to their madness. Given the bleak employment picture, Price questioned their approach.“Why would we pass a discriminatory constitutional amendment that would hurt not only loving and committed gay and lesbian couples, but our fragile economy as well?” Price said.The new report was issued at request of Iowa State Sen. Matt McCoy (D), who served on One Iowa\u2019s board.Marriage Equality Back on Maine BallotCharles Summers Jr.Gay marriage is going on Maine\u2019s 2012 ballot. Marriage equality supporters needed 35,000 signatures, but have garnered more than 100,000 names, Queerty reports.Voters will decide gay marriage\u2019s fate again. Mainers voted down marriage equality in 2009. Maine lawmakers approved marriage equality in May of that year, which Queerty also reported.However, voters repealed the law on Nov. 3, 2009. Marriage equality advocates began gathering signatures after receiving Maine Secretary of State Charles Summers Jr.\u2019s blessing in August. Photo credit: Lilia Ahner; Maine Secretary of State Charles E. Summers Jr. via maine.gov"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Gay Marriage Means Money in Iowa and Marriage Equality Heads Back to Maine\u2019s Ballot","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/gay-marriage-means-money-in-iowa-and-marriage-equality-heads-back-to-maines-ballot\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]