Vancouver's still a prime gay tourist destination, industry says: Ruling to allow same-sex marriage in California won't make city less appealing

VANCOUVER - A California court decision to allow same-sex marriage could cut down on the number of gay U.S. travelers heading to B.C. to get married but the impact won't be huge, Vancouver tourism officials said Friday.

The California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage this week in a decision that invalidates virtually any law that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation.

The 4-3 ruling declared the state constitution protects a fundamental "right to marry" that extends equally to same-sex couples. It tossed a highly emotional issue into the election year while opening the way for tens of thousands of gay people to wed in California, starting as early as mid-June.

Tourism Vancouver representative Dayna Miller said Vancouver is considered a very attractive destination for gay travelers for many reasons, not just because Canada has allowed same-sex marriages since 2003.

"This decision could have an impact but it won't be huge," she said in an interview. "Gay travelers have a lot of compelling reasons to come to Vancouver - first and foremost because it's an attractive destination. Marriage is certainly a key selling feature but it's not the only reason to come."

Gayvan.com Travel Marketing president Angus Praught, who specializes in marketing Vancouver to gay travelers, agrees the California court decision won't have a dramatic impact on the city's appeal to the international gay community.

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Vancouver Sun,  Canada