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Same-Sex Marriage: Parnell Request Stay on Ruling, Despite Possible Economic Influences

Statesymbolsusa.org

Last week the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals struck down same-sex marriage bans in Nevada and Idaho.  Because of that ruling, US District Court Judge Timothy Burgess found that the same-sex marriage ban was a violation of both due process and equal protection under the 14th amendment.  

1998 marked the year the voters of Alaska added an amendment to the Alaska constitution that defined marriage as being between one man and one woman.  In May, five gay couples filed a lawsuit challenging Alaska’s ban on same-sex marriage.  The suit also called for the barring of any state laws that refuse to recognize gay marriages legally performed in other states or countries or that prevent unmarried gay couples from marrying.

Executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska Joshua Decker says the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision is nothing but good news for Alaska.

“It’s great news for all Alaskans who care about equality and it’s great news for same-sex couples who are in committed loving relationships, because the 9th circuit very clearly said that discriminatory bans on equal marriage, such as the one in Alaska, are absolutely dead on arrival.”

On Sunday, Judge Burgess ordered the state of Alaska to immediately start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize marriages from other states. 

Governor Sean Parnell said in a press release that he will appeal the ruling in order to “defend and uphold the law and the Alaska Constitution.”

However, the removal on the ban of same-sex marriage could be an economic opportunity for the state of Alaska.  A new study called “Estimating the Economic Boost of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples in Alaska” states that same-sex couples could add $8 million in spending to the state economy.  Senior council at the Williams Institute at the University Of California Los Angeles School Of Law Christy Mallory is an author of the study.  She says the researchers estimate that 600 same sex couples will get married in Alaska once they are able.

“Over the first three years this would bring about $8 million in revenue to the state and local economy and about $135,000 in sales tax revenue.”

Mallory says the figures come from the estimated total average of money spent on wedding ceremonies and celebrations, including out-of-state guests traveling to Alaska.  Spending related to same-sex couples’ weddings would create 26 to 79 jobs in the tourism and recreation sector for the state.

“And as far as couples go we estimate that about half will marry in the first three years that they’re allowed to. This is a pattern that we’ve seen in Massachusetts and other states. We don’t take into account couples that will travel to the state to marry, people who are for example here in California and think Alaska’s beautiful and want to take their wedding up there and bring all their guests, we don’t count that so that will be an additional impact.”

Although Burgess denied a delay sought by the state on Friday for oral arguments, the state is currently appealing for a stay on the ruling. 

The ACLU   of Alaska issued a press release shortly after expressing its disappointment in the governor.  Decker says that Burgess’s ruling left no place for discrimination in Alaska or America.

“The 9th circuit clearly and forcefully engaged all the arguments that Alaska made trying to defend its indefensible ban on equal marriage and the 9th circuit threw all of them out.”

Gay marriage, which was not an issue being discussed heavily during the campaigning so far, has suddenly become a hot topic among the candidates for running for governor.  Parnell’s campaign for re-election issued a release asking if independent gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker would “defend Alaska’s Constitution” by fighting the gay marriage ruling. 

Walker, an attorney, responded although he personally believes marriage should only be between one man and one woman, he did not support the state’s decision to appeal.  He added that if he were governor, he would “uphold the laws of the land.”

If the stay is denied, gay couples across the state that applied for marriage licenses on Monday could be having their ceremonies as early as Thursday.