Bloomberg Pushes for
N.Y. Marriage-Equality

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg urged state legislators to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage on Wednesday night, citing increased support for marriage equality in his appeal for lawmakers to "do the right thing."

"I think you see that the tide is turning, that support is mounting," Bloomberg said to more than 300 people gathered at the annual dinner of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center in Manhattan. "It's still not going to be easy. There are people who don't agree, but it's incumbent on all of us to explain to people that this really is a basic right that people should have, and I think that it's time for Albany to set politics aside and do the right thing, and pass the gay marriage bill."

Bloomberg congratulated U.S. senator Chuck Schumer, who did not attend the dinner, for becoming the latest example of the changing climate. Senator Schumer announced his support for same-sex marriage on Sunday, taking the position already held by all other statewide officials in New York. In doing so, he became the 10th U.S. senator to support marriage equality.

The mayor promised to testify for marriage equality in the state capital with lesbian New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn -- who joined him at the dinner -- and to do "whatever it takes to put the pressure on."

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith has acknowledged that he does not have the votes to pass the marriage-equality bill in his chamber at this time. The assembly passed the same-sex marriage bill in 2007, but it stalled in the senate, which was then controlled by Republicans. Democrats now control both houses of the legislature.

Bloomberg remained confident, if uncommitted to a timeline. "Make no mistake, the time will come, I think in the nearer term and in the further out, and we will pass this bill," he said.