Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, declaring that “near-equality is no equality” for gay couples, delivered an uncharacteristically forceful and sweeping speech on Thursday in which he called on New York to “lead the American journey forward” by legalizing same-sex marriage this year.

Directly addressing an issue that is roiling the State Legislature in the final weeks of its annual session, Mr. Bloomberg said that the state’s inaction on same-sex marriage was incompatible with its long history of promoting freedom and tolerance. He invoked the riot at the Stonewall Inn in the West Village almost 42 years ago, widely viewed as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement, as an example of the role that New Yorkers can play in shaping history.

“We are the freest city in the freest country in the world — but freedom is not frozen in time,” he told a crowd of about 200 at the Cooper Union in downtown Manhattan.

Mr. Bloomberg has no direct control over state legislation, but he wields influence as a generous campaign donor, especially to Republicans, and his decision to repeatedly weigh in on the marriage debate this year suggests that the issue has become a priority for him.

Even as same-sex marriage has become a popular cause for elected officials and celebrities in New York, Mr. Bloomberg has emerged as a particularly important advocate given his visibility, wealth and longtime support for conservative politicians. Last week he went to Albany to lobby Republican senators, and on Wednesday he hosted a star-studded fund-raiser for gay rights advocates at the Upper East Side headquarters of his foundation.

For the full story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/nyregion/mayor-bloomberg-states-case-for-same-sex-marriage.html?_r=1&hpw

Good for him and better for gay New Yorkers. Hopefully his prestige and influence will help achieve the goal of equality for all New Yorkers. There's a lot about Bllomberg that recommends him. I thought that about Guiliani at one time until, like McCain, he abandoned principle for ambition.

Good for him and better for gay New Yorkers. Hopefully his prestige and influence will help achieve the goal of equality for all New Yorkers. There's a lot about Bllomberg that recommends him. I thought that about Guiliani at one time until, like McCain, he abandoned principle for ambition.

Rudy was all style and no substance.

Rudy was awesome in the days after 9/11.