Marriage Equality an Economic Boon

New research from the Williams Institute indicates that same-sex couples are not only taking the freedom to marry seriously -- they're benefiting the economy by doing so.

A report released Friday by the institute, a think tank on the law and sexual orientation based at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, estimates that the nationwide economic boost from same-sex weddings could be as large as $2.6 billion.

"Same-sex couples and their out-of-town guests spend money to celebrate weddings," said Williams researcher M.V. Lee Badgett in a press release. "As we have seen in states that already extend marriage to same-sex couples, this spending boost can lead to an influx of tourism dollars that benefit local businesses and an increase in state and local tax revenue."

States without marriage equality are getting left behind -- they're missing out on up to $750 million, according to the institute. Check out your state using an interactive map here.