Gay marriage has been a boon in Massachusetts

Once again, Republicans in Pennsylvania are proposing an amendment to Pennsylvania's Constitution banning same-sex marriage. Republican state Sen. John Eichelberger is alarmed because four states have followed the example of Massachusetts and legalized same-sex marriage.

What has same-sex marriage done to Massachusetts? Five years after the legalization of same-sex marriage, for the most part life goes on as usual for the gay and straight citizens of Massachusetts.

There have been only two major changes in Massachusetts as a result of same-sex marriage. Marriage equality has been extended to include gay people, and the commonwealth of Massachusetts has received a boost in its economy in the amount of $100 million.

UCLA's Williams Institute released a study that shows Massachusetts has gained clear economic advantages from the educated professionals drawn to the state by marriage equality and from the influx of money spent on same-sex marriages.

The commonwealth of Pennsylvania could do the same thing if we stop listening to the fear-mongering of some Republican politicians and the right-wing religious groups that support them.

 

JOSEPH KOWALSKI
North Huntingdon