Michael Bloomberg To Advocate Same-Sex Marriage Equality At Mayors' Conference

Working with marriage-equality advocates Freedom to Marry, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the heads of several other major American cities will launch a new group backing same-sex marriage on Friday.

The announcement of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry is scheduled for Friday morning, when Bloomberg and others will be attending the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors being held in Washington. The group currently includes over 70 mayors from the across the country, a mixture that Freedom to Marry praised in a press release as coming "from cities and towns -- large and small -- with diverse geographic, ethnic and political backgrounds."

In the same statement, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders strongly backed the need for laws allowing same-sex marriage, calling it a positive influence on the country. "Allowing loving and committed couples to join in marriage has benefits not just for couples and their families -- but also for society," he said. "Marriage encourages people to take responsibility for each other, provides greater security for children, and helps our country live up to its promises set forth in our founding documents."

Sanders, a Republican, is one of the new group's co-chairs, along with Bloomberg, Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, and Boston's Thomas Menino. The executive group represents both parties and, with Bloomberg, an independent, giving weight to the group's claims of bipartisan appeal.

Bloomberg's home state of New York became the latest state to allow same-sex marriage, passing a law through the state legislature in June of last year.

Another notable member of the group is former White House Chief of Staff and current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. While the Obama administration sometimes faced anger from gay groups during Emanuel's tenture in the West Wing, he called New York's legalization of gay marriage a "good thing" in an interview last year and told the Chicago Tribune on Thursday that "I'm going to support [same-sex marriage] because I think it's the right thing, and it's consistent with our values."

Comments

[Michael Ludin]

12:16 PM on 01/25/2012

I am with MIKE!

[Hank007]

05:38 PM on 01/21/2012

The good news: he supports gay marriage.
The bad news: only for those who can afford the new $100,000 gay marriage license.

[Brad Betschen]

03:44 PM on 01/21/2012

I've been looking for a full list of these mayors for days now. Anyone know of one?

[MemphisHopJack]

12:11 PM on 01/23/2012

A link to the current list of mayors::

http://www­.freedomto­marry.org/­pages/mayo­rs-for-the­-freedom-t­o-marry

[carolla7411]

12:34 AM on 01/21/2012

next we will have a gay president omg

[lovingthismoment50]

01:41 AM on 01/21/2012

I can't wait.

[boothstodd]

07:31 PM on 01/20/2012

The article is great, the saddest part is while reading it, I am thinking about Mr, Gingrich. Married three times, each divorce in scandal. but he wants to defend marriage. This guy says he has the right to change, but his changes have not included his views on biggotry. Sad that in a nation where everyone is supposed to be free, we still have people like he and Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney wanting to be the leaders of a "FREE" nation! Republican, Democats and Independents alike should really wonder, before heading to the polls, what will these leaders want to take from you or your children or grandchildren next?

[mrld20]

06:58 PM on 01/20/2012

Go Mayor Bloomberg! Although I'm still a little wary at your proposed cuts to the homeless shelters to LGBT youth; I'm glad to see your making up for it... :DDD

[schaf1]

05:59 PM on 01/20/2012

Americans need to get this issue behind us and catch up with the rest of the world. We have serious issues to deal with on both domestic and international fronts. If you're not invited to the wedding, then you don't have to get a gift!

[golions]

04:17 PM on 01/20/2012

Great to hear good news; congratulations to Mayors for the Freedom to Marry.

[Anita Benson]

03:43 PM on 01/20/2012

Go Mike!

[MemphisHopJack]

03:07 PM on 01/20/2012

A link to the current list of mayors::

http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/mayors-for-the-freedom-to-marry

[jacmed]

03:44 PM on 01/20/2012

Thank you, MemphisHopJack - I've been waiting for this list. As expected, there are very few mayors from red states participating.

[mattwilliams512]

03:56 PM on 01/20/2012

Ummm, my mayor, Lee Leffingwell of Austin, TX is on the list. As are the mayors of Houston, TX and Nashville, TN. I realize that these cities are just Blue Dots in the overwhelming Seas of Red that are the states as a whole, but they are BIG Blue Dots!

[Contact1972]

04:06 PM on 01/20/2012

Actually there are quite a few blue spots in red states. I expect this to increase.

[robertstone1robert]

02:36 PM on 01/20/2012

Friends who live in NYC and have endure this caricature of a mayor tell me he rates very low. He obviously has money. He craves respect, honor. Therefore, he wants to ingratiate himself with the homosexual mafia.

[Contact1972]

03:32 PM on 01/20/2012

Homosexual mafia LOL? What do we do-make sure your shoes match your pants?

[robertstone1robert]

07:25 PM on 01/21/2012

Would you prefer I say homosexual loud noisemakers with deep pockets?

[Angel1999]

04:04 PM on 01/20/2012

Hey, if it takes a gay mafia to get politicians to support the Constitution, then that's what it takes.

[robertstone1robert]

07:30 PM on 01/21/2012

It's now become a Constitutional issue instead of a social program. I have it on good authority the writers of the Constitution thought the word "gay" meant something else.

[opriskoherring]

02:33 PM on 01/20/2012

Women's voting rights 1918
Desegregation 1950s and 60s
Voter Rights Act 1964
equal pay for equal work 1969
Gay Rights 1970s & 80s

LEAN FORWARD AMERICA

History has always been on the side of Progressives. No one looks back and says "Damn I wish we never gave people equal rights"
FDR said it best "All we have to fear is fear itself"

[jacmed]

03:47 PM on 01/20/2012

Disagree, opriskoherring! Plenty of people look back and say that - most notably the right-wing, fundamentalist Christian conservatives! But, as you say, history has always been on the side of progressives. I mean, if it wasn't for progressives, we'd still be a colony of Great Britain!

[opriskoherring]

04:29 PM on 01/20/2012

Thank you.

[MemphisHopJack]

02:29 PM on 01/20/2012

Note of interest (at least to me):
I looked at the list (now at 75+) and the following southern states are most notably absent from representation:

Alabama
Georgia
South Carolina
Mississippi
Tennessee
Kentucky
Arkansas
Louisiana

The Bible belt is slow to change and progress. I must pray for them

[Contact1972]

03:33 PM on 01/20/2012

You make a good point but nice to see 4 Mayor's from NC on that list.

[jacmed]

03:49 PM on 01/20/2012

Sure is nice, Contact! Wanna bet they won't win re-election, though?

[Contact1972]

03:34 PM on 01/20/2012

Cute pup:-)

[MemphisHopJack]

03:39 PM on 01/20/2012

Thanks-- as is yours.. !!!
Dogs are the best!!!!

[opriskoherring]

02:12 PM on 01/20/2012

Run, Mikey, Run !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need a President like you.

[vigoddess]

12:50 PM on 01/20/2012

Mayor Bloomberg is finished in poltics.
After he threw the occupy out of Zuccotti park, he can support
a free ice cream cone for everybody, and it's still not going to
erase what he did to the 1st Amendment, and he knows
the Jewish people do not respect persecution of any
kind. When the police destroyed people's property and
took books, it was no different than the brown shirts of
years ago, and the entire nation saw that, including
Israel. Mr. Bloomberg supporting gay marraiges isn't
going to wash that stain off his legacy.

[dadofoh49]

02:59 PM on 01/20/2012

Do you really think Mayor Bloomberg cares about breing reelected or needs that job.
He's estimated worth in 2011 was $19 Billion. If you had polled Yew Yorkers you'd see your only popular in your own little circle. You had the right Idea but went Too far with it

[vigoddess]

03:30 PM on 01/20/2012

Hey, you read what you wanted to adapt to your own way of thinking.
Common sense would tell you that if anyone had 19 billion dollars,
why would they run for Mayor of a city, if not for ego, or legacy, or
to be a leader? Bernie Madoff had billions, too, but that doesn't mean
he didn't commit a crime against innocent people, and if you took a poll,
you'd find most New Yorkers hate him for what he did.
I would rather be contraversial if it got people to think than popular
and I don't have any circles. The man went against the lst Amendment,
which is the right to protest peacefully, and these people could have
been you or your family willing to get stomped on, thrown on the ground,
arrested, or pepper sprayed by violence, because you believe in
something, and Mr. Bloomberg gave the order. The lives of people
have no price, no matter how many billions Mr. Bloomberg has.
order.