Vegas, 'marriage capital of the world,' left at the altar on gay weddings

[DriftingCrow]

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/1/5/-marriage-capitaloftheworldleftatthealtarongayweddings.html
Author: Susan Freiss Source: Al-Jazeera America

Because of a state constitutional ban, Nevada's wedding industry loses untold millions while other states make it legal.

"Sure it's frustrating," said Ron DeCar, co-owner of the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. "With everything else Nevada has to offer, especially in Las Vegas, it's baffling why it hasn't happened here. If it doesn't happen soon, by the time we actually get it, there'll probably be 10 more states ahead of us. We'll be one of the last ones, which is ridiculous."

Flint testified at the Nevada legislature in 2013 that legalizing same-sex marriage could mean as much as $90 million in new business for an industry weakened both by recession and a liberalization of marriage laws across the nation that make it less necessary to slip off to Vegas or Reno.

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Oh I hear Cyndi's Money Changes Everything playing when these states change their laws purely for monetary reasons.

[lilacwoman]

I am surprised to hear no same sex weddings in Vegas!

I would gamble big money on a great many Vegas hotel rooms being booked by same sex couples so it is sheer hypocrisy not to allow the weddings.

[Jamie D]

The State of Nevada recognizes "same sex unions" as "domestic partnerships" under state law.  I have seen a same-sex wedding in Las Vegas, Nevada.

There are bipartisan legislative fixes being proposed.