VOA标准英语2010年-Same-Sex Weddings are Big Business in

Surge in ceremonies brings economic opportunity to Washington, DC merchants

Penelope Poulou | Washington, DC 30 April 2010
Cuc and Gwen were among the first gay couples to tie the knot the day same sex marriage became legal in Washington D.C.

The gay community is not alone in welcoming the legalization of same sex weddings in Washington D.C., the move has also opened up new business opportunities in the nation's capital.

Cuc and Gwen were among the first gay couples to tie the knot the day same sex marriage became legal in Washington D.C.

"It was cold. It was windy but there was such a joy in the air," says Cuc. "Just strangers who didn't know us were so joyous² for us and genuinely congratulatory. After that day, I kind of looked around and said, 'Now I really feel I belong here.'"

All in the family

They also want to start a family. Washington, D.C. has a Second Parent Adoption³ law that allows the gay spouse⁴ of a biological mother or father to become an adoptive parent.

"This morning we were at a fertility clinic and Gwen was outside talking a phone call. So, I walked up to the receptionist and I said 'When the doctor calls us in, can I bring my wife in?' And she didn't blink an eye," says Cuc.

Pat and Jane, another gay couple, already have a baby.

"It's my great grand baby we're raising, says Pat. "So, she's going to be part of it."

The couple has been together for 25 years. But they've just  filed a marriage application and expect to be wed¹ in June.

Jane jumps for joy while showing off her ring. "It's legal!"

Waiting list

Since March 3, DC's Marriage Bureau has been inundated⁵ with applications. Hundreds of gay couples are on a waiting list. 

"Right now, they are booked until June," says Nicole. She and her fiancee, Lenore are at the marriage bureau to file a marriage application.

Like Nicole and Lenore, who came from the southern state of Georgia, gay couples are arriving in D.C. from all over the country. Local businesses are taking note. 

Kathryn Hamm is a gay wedding coordinator⁶.

 

Kathryn Hamm is a gay wedding coordinator.  She says a decade ago few companies  were focused on gay ceremonies. But that is changing.

Business opportunities

"You've got main street vendors⁷ looking to expand a little their market. You've got folks who are opening businesses, particularly planners, looking to specialize in this market," says Kathryn.

According to Forbes magazine, the $70 billion-a-year wedding industry would grow another $16 billion if gays were allowed to marry in all 50 states.

Jeweler Jonathan Mervis is aware of the numbers. He has created a new wedding ring collection for gay couples.

"I think just the fact that having a collection that is specifically for the gay market is symbolic⁸ that we're accepting, we're open," says Jonathan. "The line of jewelry⁹ is a little bit more heavier and more solid than some other jewelry."

Jeweler Jonathan Mervis has created a new wedding ring collection for gay couples.

 

Caterers too are gearing up. Nancy Goodman and Spencer McCormick run Main Events Caterers. They used to cater¹⁰ what were called commitment ceremonies. But the weddings are welcomed.   

"A lot of gay marriages are very nice, high-end weddings," says Nancy. "Because they are very excited that they finally are been able to do this."  

Embracing change

Stephen Robinson, a florist¹¹ in Old Town Alexandria Virgina is gay. He says some businesses are turning down gay weddings.

"There still are people who are not willing to put themselves out there yet. But I think businesses are realizing that our money is just as good anybody else's money and we're willing to spend it," says Steven Robinson.

According to Forbes magazine, the $70 billion-a-year wedding industry would grow another $16 billion if gays were allowed to marry in all 50 states.

 

But it's not just about money. Americans like Lenore say gay couples should have equal rights in all 50 states.

 

"We live in 2010. There should be no more 'first.' First women, first black, first ethnic¹² this, first that. We should be better than that as a country. We live in the United States of America. This is supposedly the most powerful country in the world. In a lot of things we are really behind the times," Lenore says.

For the moment, only five states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage.
 

1 wed   

v.娶，嫁，与…结婚

参考例句：

• The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
• The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。

2 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

3 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

4 spouse   

n.配偶(指夫或妻)

参考例句：

• Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
• What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？

5 inundated   

v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付

参考例句：

• We have been inundated with offers of help. 主动援助多得使我们应接不暇。
• We have been inundated with every bit of information imaginable. 凡是想得到的各种各样的信息潮水般地向我们涌来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

7 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

8 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

9 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

10 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。

11 florist   

n.花商；种花者

参考例句：

• The florist bunched the flowers up.花匠把花捆成花束。
• Could you stop at that florist shop over there?劳驾在那边花店停一下好不好？

12 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。