Same-Sex Marriage an Economic Boon to NYC, Bloomberg Says

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.

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.

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 choose 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