Taking advantage of the recent legalization of same-sex marriage in his state the mayor of Minneapolis visited Chicago, the first of many stops outside of Minnesota, to encourage gay couples to visit the Land of 10,000 Lakes and tie the knot, according to USA Today.
Mayor R.T. Rybak visited the Center on Halsted, a community center on the north side of Chicago in the predominately gay neighborhood nicknamed Boystown, as part of his "Marry Me in Minneapolis" campaign. In light of a recent statement from the Internal Revenue Service that the federal government will honor same-sex marriages performed legally regardless of the state of residence for the couple states that allow same-sex marriage are expected to become the site of many "destination weddings," according to the Associated Press.
Legislators had been pushing to legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois but a bill that would do so was never brought to vote during the last legislative session thanks to squabbles over budget in the debt-ridden state. It is expected to come up again in the fall.
Rybak acknowledged the monetary benefits his city could enjoy if couples visit for their nuptials in comments made before the trip, according to the Associated Press.
"I love Chicago and love to come spend money there, but if people there don't get the rights they deserve, I am more than happy to have them come and spend their money in Minneapolis," Rybak said.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a statement recognizing the opportunity the cash-strapped state is missing out on by failing to act on same-sex marriage.
"Failing to extend marriage to gay and lesbian couple is bad for Chicago, bad for Illinois and bad for our local economy and the jobs it creates," Emanuel said. "Our robust tourism and hospitality industries will thrive most fully when our state hangs out the 'welcome' sign for everybody."
A recent study by the Williams Institute, a think tank at UCLA, found that if the state of Illinois were to legalize same-sex marriage roughly 23,000 couples would tie the knot in ceremonies that would add over $100 million into the local economy, according to the Associated Press.
In addition to dollars coming in from tourism and marriage Rybak acknowledged that expanding people's rights can have a more long term positive effect on the economy.
"You can look to the future and say Minneapolis and Chicago are competing to attract talent," Rybak said. "Over time if people have rights here that they don't have there, it does have a bottom line impact (because) it impacts where you locate your business."
In response to a question about whether it was acceptable for the mayor of one city to actively court tourism in a neighboring city Rybak laughed and took a shot at the notoriously prickly Emanuel, according to the Associated Press.
"Have you met Mayor Emanuel?" Rybak joked. "He would do this to me every day of the week."
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