I would think that the states approving same sex marriages would reap huge economic advantages

Just off the cuff, I would think that the Constitutional/civil rights states would gain population due to people moving in and the Unconstitutional/non civil rights states would lose population due to people moving out.

The Unconstitutional states would gain a reputation for being backwards and the Constitutional states would gain a reputation for being progressive with the resulting rewards for such labels either accruing or diminishing.


edit to change labeling

No matter what, there will be gay people in "Unconstitutional" states. These people will not be as productive economically if they are unable to have a fulfilling personal life. Others who know and love them will also feel discouraged. It's really a big downer. Only where people are free can they prosper. See: Soviet Union.

(Of course many gays leave downer areas because they MUST have the personal freedom in this most basic of human rights: to love. That loss of gay people to other areas is an economic loss just as it was for the Soviets. No one wanted to stay in the Soviet Union including their best minds. Those that stayed were unmotivated.)

to come to CT, particularly New Haven, a gay friendly city where I live.

I've done some begging in posts on DU! A gay man lives on our street and his house, altho modest, is stunningly landscaped. Even tho our taxes are high, he lives here because of the cultural and intellectual environment and because he is free to be what he is, which includes nice neighbors.

It makes me feel sad for the people in the Unconstitutional states. I am so proud my state isn't one of them!

States that allow or recognize same-sex marriages or unions:

For every dollar paid to the federal government, these states get back in federal funds:
Connecticut: 69 cents
DC: $5.55
Iowa: $1.10
New York: 79 cents
Maine: $1.41
New Hampshire: 71 cents
Vermont: $1.08
New Jersey: 61 cents
Oregon: 93 cents
Washington: 88 cents

Source: Tax Foundation

6 of these 9 states (67%) that allow or recognize same-sex marriages or unions pay more in federal taxes than receive in federal funds (I omitted DC since it's the seat of US government).

One might surmise that these states enjoy a higher standard of living due to happier, more-productive residents. Compare this to those states that overwhelming receive more federal funding than is paid in federal taxes. You will find many of those states restrict such marriages/unions.

Here are the "top ten." The amount in parentheses indicates what the state receives in federal funding for every dollar paid in federal taxes. Status of same-sex marriages and unions are given as: Marriage/Same sex unions:
New Mexico ($2.03)--none/none
Mississippi ($2.02)--banned/none
Alaska ($1.84)--banned/none
Louisiana ($1.78)--banned/none
West Virginia ($1.76)--not legal/none
North Dakota ($1.68)--banned/banned or none
Alabama ($1.66)--banned/banned or none
South Dakota ($1.53)--banned/banned
Kentucky ($1.51)--banned/banned or none
Virginia ($1.51)--banned/banned

So you see, of the "top ten" states that receive more in federal funding than pay in federal taxes, eight (80%) ban same-sex marriages. The remaining two have either "none" or "not legal" status.

One might tend to believe that those states that permit same-sex marriages are financially pulling along those states that ban them.

Incidentally, California, a state that almost passed legislation allowing same-sex marriages/unions but was thwarted due to massive Mormon backing, gets back 78 cents for every dollar paid in federal taxes.

I hope this helps.