The Real Deal New York

From the January issue: Nowhere has the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts had more of an impact than in Provincetown, a small town on Cape Cod, which for decades has been a popular vacation destination for gays. After the May 2004 State Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, hundreds of gay couples flocked to Provincetown to get hitched. With its picturesque waterfront and unspoiled beaches, the town is an ideal setting for an outdoor wedding. By the end of December 2004, the town of about 3,400 permanent residents had issued 1,647 marriage licenses to same-sex couples. These days the legalization of gay marriage – and Provincetown’s place at the center of the issue – are having a spin-off impact on the local real estate market as more gay couples buy vacation homes.