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VEGAS INC gay marriage could be a $52M industry in nevada lgbt, From page 11 gay marriage and the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Polling suggests a majority of Nevadans support gay marriage. That shift, in Nevada and nationwide, is being noticed by wedding industry professionals like Quackenboss, who is among local business owners positioning themselves for the opportunities that will come with legal gay marriage in the Wedding Capital of the World. "With the economic climate the way it is, people are watching what's happening around the country with a careful eye and will open up as soon as business demands it," Quackenboss said. According to economist M.V. Lee Badgett, research director of the Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy at UCLA, legalizing gay marriage would generate $23 million to $52 million in business revenue and $1.8 million to $4.2 million in tax revenue over the next three years in Nevada. The brunt of the revenue impact from gay marriages, however, would come from out-of-state couples bringing their ceremonies and celebrations to Las Vegas: Eighty-five percent of the 86,203 marriage licenses issued in Clark County in 2012 were to couples from outside Southern Nevada. "Vegas' strengths lie in the fact that it is an event town," said Kathryn Hamm, president of GayWeddings. com. "It has a vibrant collection of wedding chapels, it's a destination location for many, can serve bachelor and bachelorette parties and honeymoons alike, and has featured on its stages every gay icon who has ever electrified and unified and entertained our community." The same-sex marriage industry in New York offers some inkling of what to expect in Las Vegas. In 2011, the first year gay couples could legally wed in New York state, marriage license fees, celebrations and weddingrelated purchases helped shore up New York City's economy by $259 million, according to the New York City Clerk's Office and NYC & Company, the city's tourism and marketing bureau. Dianne Schiller, owner of Renta-Dress and Tux Shop in Las Vegas, said she could hardly wait. "It would definitely increase my business and add another dimension to it," said Schiller, whose shop presented a fashion show at last month's LGBT Wedding Expo at Circus Circus and has been marketing to gay couples for years. "If we really want to sell ourselves as the Wedding Capital of the World, we need to open the doors and embrace everyone." Same-sex marriage ceremonies would come at an otherwise dour time for the wedding business. Marriage licenses issued in Clark County are down 21 percent from 2007, and Schiller's sales have dropped 20 per- For other local businesses, welcoming gay marriage is a natural next step in their marketing efforts to the LGBT community. Caesars Entertainment is one of a number of resort companies already offering commitment ceremony packages at its properties. The company is among the businesses that signed an amicus brief on Feb. 27 urging the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act and recognize gay marriages. MGM Resorts International, which in 2004 became the first company in the gaming and hospitality industry to offer health benefits to gay employees' partners, — Angie Kelly, owner of Peachy Keen Unions similarly anticipates gay marriage in Nevada with open arms. serving LGBT couples. "Legalization in Nevada would be a significant step "I think officiants have a tricky spot with same-sex marriages. If you advertise to same-sex marriages, forward in leveling the playing field, as we'd be in a there's a chance you're losing your highly religious cou- better position to compete with destinations where ples, as well. It doesn't matter to me, but it is a risk that I same-sex marriage is legal," said Alan Feldman, MGM take," she said of the 200 ceremonies she performs per Resorts senior vice president of public affairs. Although many local businesses are primed to take year, a handful of which are for same-sex couples. She explained that while many other ministers and offici- advantage of the potential revenue boost, others, inants won't advertise to same-sex couples, they may still cluding Las Vegas' numerous faith-based chapels, do perform commitment ceremonies if asked. "I think not serve same-sex couples for religious reasons. They there will be a big sense of relief that they can just say that probably won't change, even if the law does. "I have gay people who work for me and I love them breathe easy and serve this market. A lot of us are gundearly and I have nothing against them. But we're a ning for it be legalized." Bible-based chapel, and we go according to the word of God and what he says in his word," said Charolette Richards, the Christian owner of the Little White Wedding Chapel. "If the law changed, I'm not saying that I would or that I wouldn't either, but it's against my religion." Chapels that cater to same-sex couples say that just means more business for them — but that any economic gains are ancillary to the reason many of them began serving the LGBT community in the first place. Just two doors up from the Little White Wedding Chapel is the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, perhaps known best for its campy, Elvis-emblazoned neon sign beckoning visitors on the north end of the Strip. The chapel's owners are gay, and they also operate under the name of Gay Chapel of Las Vegas. As one of the first wedding chapels in Las Vegas to cater to gay couples — it began performing commitment ceremonies more than 15 years ago — being able to perform legal marriages for the LGBT community is a long time coming. "For us it's a big deal. It would not only be a chance for us to provide more weddings and beautiful ceremonies, but also a chance for customers who are gay to have the same legal rights," said Brian Mills, the chapel's general manager. "This being Vegas, all of us who work here are performers and have friends and people we know who would be affected by the social impact. And it's about that more than anything." cent this quarter. For Angie Kelly, owner of Peachy Keen Unions, a Las Vegas-based wedding officiant service that bills itself as a provider of "ceremonies for unique and eclectic couples," the anticipated boost in revenue would be less important than the level playing field that would come with the legalization of gay marriage. She's one of the few officiants in town who openly advertises as 16 20130408_VI01_F.indd 16 chris morris "I think officiants have a tricky spot with same-sex marriages. If you advertise to same-sex marriages, there's a chance you're losing your highly religious couples, as well. It doesn't matter to me, but it is a risk that I take." | 8 APRIL 2013 | 4/4/13 2:18:11 PM