Businesses to benefit from same-sex law

SAN FRANCISCO, June 14 (UPI) -- Some California businesses are set to benefit financially from the same-sex marriage law the state is preparing to implement next week, business owners say.

Daniel Doiron, who runs a hotel in Palm Springs, Calif., said the introduction of the new law Monday likely will bring scores of gay and lesbian travelers to the state in hopes of making their relationships official, The New York Times reported Saturday.

"It's basically a godsend," Doiron said.

Unlike similar legislation passed in Massachusetts, California's same-sex marriage law will allow residents of other U.S. states to be married in the West Coast state.

A recent study by the Williams Institute of the University of California-Los Angeles determined the law could be a major financial windfall for the state during the next three years. The Times said the study estimated $684 million could pour into the state's wedding industry during that period, while California's state coffers should receive a boost of $64 million.