The New Green

I believe god is green. Oh, not green like environmentally friendly, although I think she might care a bit about the planet. No, I mean green like money. And since god is green, then what better way to get things done around here for the LGBT community. What better way to show people that their intolerance, bigotry, hatred, and downright stupidity, is keeping down their earning potential.

See, not only is god green, but gay is, too.

God. Gay. Green. Hmmmmmm.

There is talk that the movement toward marriage equality in New England, except for you, Rhode Island, for shame, could deliver an economic boom to the region by attracting a "creative class" of workers to an area of the country with an aging population.

In the past year, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine have joined Massachusetts--the first state to allow marriage equality way back in Aught-Four--in welcoming gay and lesbian marriages. That makes the region the first in the United States where same-sex couples can move from one state to another while retaining marriage benefits.

So, gay couples are flocking to New England, not because of the weather--it can get cold up that'a'way--and not just because of the scenery--which is breathtaking. No, they're moving up there simply because they can get married and live the life to which all Americans should be entitled.

And now comes talk of using marriage quality as a recruiting tool for colleges and universities. I mean, wouldn't you rather attend a school in a state where you're accepted, treated and respected under the law like everybody else? And businesses such as health care and financial institutions that dominate the region are also looking good to gay men and women.

Gay is the new green. And this isn't just wishful thinking.

Same-sex couples were 2.5 times more likely to move to Massachusetts since it granted marriage equality than they had been prior to the change. According to a study released by the Williams Institute of the University of California, new arrivals to the northeast are more likely to be younger and female than before same-sex marriage was approved.

And their research shows that heterosexual members of the so-called "creative class"--financial geniuses, software programmers and educators--find states that allow marriage equality more appealing places to live.

More green reasons to be gay in New England.

In Massachusetts, the 12,000-plus same-sex couples that have wed, and their guests, spent about $111 million on weddings, flowers, cakes and hotel rooms. And in the long run, many of these couples chose to stay in a states where they are accepted rather than move back to states where their marriage is not recognized. See, f

orty-two of the 50 U.S. states have laws on their books prohibiting same-sex marriages.

Massachusetts has shown us a hundred-million green reasons for gay to be okay.

That's why I think gay is the new green, and that god might also be green to a lot of people who now see marriage equality as an economic boost. When these folks get down on their knees each night and pray to their god, when they see those dollar signs, they might just come to see that gay isn't so bad after all.

It might even be good. For business.