LOCKPORT — by britney milazzo

britney.milazzo@lockportjournal.com

Since last month’s legalization of same-sex marriages in New York state, the Lockport area is not reaping economic benefits from the new law to the degree that nearby Niagara Falls is.

While one local company said it is seeing a 30 percent increase in business from gay couples utilizing their photography studio for upcoming wedding events, several other local businesses said they’ve had no inquiries from same-sex couples. That includes same-sex marriage licenses requests in area towns.

And two local businesses said they would decline the offer to serve gays who are taking the plunge, violating state laws.

Business boom

Wedding planner Tammy Papia of Heavenlee Weddings said the average wedding for Western New Yorkers costs $18,000 to $20,000, and with more people able to marry when the law takes effect July 24, she predicts the wedding industry in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area will get an “overwhelming increase in business.”

Bruce Glena of Glena Photography, 6336 Robinson Road, said he has seen a spike in business and estimates that will increase profit by 30 percent.

Glena said he’s had at least 27 same-sex couples requesting his photography service since the law passed June 24 — the earliest wedding scheduled for mid-August. However a majority of those couples are marrying in Niagara Falls, he said.

“They’ll contact us and they’re just ecstatic they can finally be with someone they love,” Glena said.

General Manager Tom DeFlippo of the Tuscarora Inn, 128 Walnut St., said his biggest revenue generator is summer wedding receptions and assumes that with gay marriage being legal now, it will increase business for him. But since the recent passage of the law, he’s received no requests.

In the past, however, DeFlippo said he has received a few calls from same-sex couples asking if the Tuscarora Inn would host their reception after they wed in a jurisdiction that legalized that law before New York.

“I never declined then and I wouldn’t now,” DeFlippo said. “It’s good for our business and reputation, and it’s a special time for them.”

But a wedding planner and videographer said if they do get those requests, they would deny service to gays due to personal Christian beliefs.

“We haven’t got any calls yet, but there might be a trickle-down effect,” said Mark Beckstein of White Bird Productions, 7628 Chestnut Ridge Road, who’s been in full-time, full-service video production since 1982.

He’s just one provider who said he would “pleasantly decline” service to gay couples. Another is Papia.

“From a Christian aspect, I cannot do work for something I don’t believe in,” Papia said. “Church has taught us to love the sinner, hate the sin.”

The law

Declining service based on sexual orientation can come with a penalty for violating the Human and Civil Rights laws, according to the state Attorney General’s Office. Both Beckstein and Papia declined to comment further on the record about their business decisions.

State Attorney General’s Office spokeswoman Jennifer Givner added that discrimination against same-sex couples is also illegal under the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act that went into effect Jan. 16, 2003, making it illegal for homosexuals to be discriminated against in employment, housing, credit, education and public accommodations.

According to attorney Elizabeth A. Cordello, who specializes in discrimination, labor and employment law, and litigation for Underberg & Kessler LLP, under the Marriage Equality Act, a church or religious institution is the only organization that can deny same-sex couples for ceremonial services.

“It’s unlawful for a private business to discriminate or deny service based on sexual orientation,” Cordello said. “Businesses should be aware of that, and if someone is denied service, that person should file a complaint.”

The local Office of the Attorney General is located at 350 Main St., No. 300A, Buffalo, and can be reached at 853-8400.

Cordello added that consequences can occur that would include a fine and/or being forced to offer services by the state.

“The law was put in place to protect our citizens,” Cordello said. “Everyone, by law, should be treated equally no matter their sex, race or sexual orientation.”

Economic growth

According to the state Tourism Department of Economic Development, the passing of the gay marriage law would provide the state an estimated $70 million a year in revenue, but Sen. George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, said he believes the issue was more of a social issue than an economic one.

“The brunt of the economic development will be in Niagara Falls ... not here in our small hometowns,” Maziarz said. “We’ll find few places in this state that will benefit from this.”

Maziarz said the major cities affected will be Niagara Falls — the Honeymoon Capital of the world — and New York City. He added that New York City and its greater area would provide a majority of the state’s economic growth in gay marriages because it makes up more than half the state’s population.

Getting hitched

City of Lockport Clerk Richard P. Mullaney said: “No one’s been knocking down our door” with same-sex marriage license inquiries and applications.

The same goes for all other Niagara County towns, including one only application inquiry in both the towns of Lockport and Niagara, and “a few” application requests in the Town of Somerset, according to Town Clerk Becky Connolly. The rest, according to their respective town clerks, have received none.

For the City of Niagara Falls on the other hand, City Clerk Carol Antonucci said “hundreds” of same-sex couples began applying for a marriage license starting 8 a.m. June 27, and several inquiries daily since then. Licenses however cannot be issued until July 24.

“Eastern Niagara County has never had a large gay community,” Maziarz said in response to the low number of marriage license requests.

Summer is the area’s leading wedding season, but license requests have been quiet in the Lockport gay community, Mullaney added.

“If we do get them, the awkward part will be determining the bride and groom,” Mullaney said about issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The application currently asks for the name of the bride and groom, but does not have an option for groom and groom or bride and bride.

The state has not issued new license forms for Lockport, and alterations cannot be made to the current application, Mullaney said.

“Now with it being legal, we’ll find a way to issue a license,” Mullaney said. “We’ll just have to determine the bride and groom in same-sex couple situations, even if there are two brides or two grooms.”

Mullaney said his office will be contacting the state regarding the possibility of a new marriage license, but has not heard of anything yet. The same issue stands in the Falls, as well, Antonucci said.

But in New York City, according to the city clerk’s office website, there is a separate same-sex marriage application that can be filled out.

“Same-sex couples may begin applying for marriage licenses using the online forms application process. Forms that accommodate all marriages are now available online,” the website said.

The governor’s office did not return a phone call to answer whether a new license will be issued to each jurisdiction by July 24, including Lockport and its surrounding towns.

New York state joins Iowa, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C., in the legality of same-sex marriages.

Contact reporter Britney Milazzo at 439-9222 ext. 6251.