May 25, 2008 5:29 pm US/Pacific
Same-Sex Marriage Ruling May Boost SF Tourism
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / KCBS) ―
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Same-sex couple Shelly Bailes, left, and Ellen Pontac react to a California Supreme Court decision to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage May 15, 2008, at the California Supreme Court in San Francisco.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Not only did the recent Supreme Court ruling legalizing same sex marriage in California bring smiles to the faces of thousands of residents, it could bring increased tourism to the Golden State.
"The community already feels very warm about San Francisco because of our history, because of what we've done as a community to support equal rights for everybody. I think that the opportunity that this presents us will really magnify that, and make people want to come here even more," said Joe D'Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
To the north in Sonoma County, inns are starting to offer wedding packages specifically targeting same sex couples.
"Sonoma County has always been gay-friendly, but I think that what this will do, in conjunction with other inns that are offering things in the area, is make Sonoma County as a whole even more of a destination for gay couples," said Kristi Jeppesen, owner and innkeeper of the Glenelly Inn and Cottages.
Meanwhile, a conservative group has asked the state Supreme Court to stay its ruling until November, when a measure to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage could be on the ballot.
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