• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s Discusses Meeting with GOP Senators About Marriage Equality Bill: VIDEO, REMARKS

Andy Towle June 16, 2011

Michael_bloomberg

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a trip to Albany this morning to meet with GOP Senators debating whether to bring a marriage equality bill to the floor for a vote.

Following the meeting, Bloomberg said he expected the bill to pass with votes to spare.

Read Bloomberg's full remarks following the press conference, and watch part of the Q&A, AFTER THE JUMP…

NYT City Room reports that there has still been no decision on a vote, and Majority Leader Dean Skelos emerged from the meeting saying it was still being deliberated:

The mayor did not say which additional Republican lawmakers he expected to switch their votes, but Mr. Bloomberg mentioned three Republican senators he had spoken with in recent weeks: Andrew Lanza of Staten Island, John J. Flanagan of East Northport, and Mark J. Grisanti of North Buffalo.

“In all my conversations with senators – Senator Lanza, Senator Flanagan, Senator Grisanti – and many others, I could see how personal this was for them and their families, how carefully they were listening to both their parents and children, and how earnestly they are struggling to find the right answer,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “This is not an easy issue.”

Read Bloomberg's full remarks following the press conference, and watch part of the Q&A, AFTER THE JUMP…

REMARKS:

Q&A

video
play-rounded-fill
Link

The following are Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's remarks as delivered today at the State Capitol after meeting with the State Senate Republican Conference 

“Well good morning. I just came from the Senate GOP conference meeting and I asked them for a chance to speak with them again about the marriage equality bill. Something that I strongly believe in and have been doing everything possible to support. I believe that the principles that have guided our nation since its founding: freedom liberty, equality; the principles that have animated generations of Americans to expand opportunity to an ever widening circle of our citizenry are the principles that must now lead us forward.

 “If you remember, at our founding, African-Americans were held in bondage. Catholics in New York could not hold office. Those without property could not vote. Women could not vote or hold office. And homosexuality, in some places, was a crime punishable by death.

“One by one, over many long years, the legal prohibitions to freedom and equality were overcome – some on the battlefield, some at the State House, and some in the courthouse.

“Throughout our history, each and every generation has expanded upon the freedoms won by their parents and grandparents. Each and every generation has removed some of the barriers to full participation in the American dream. And the next great barrier standing before our generation is the prohibition on marriage for same-sex couples.

“Over the past several weeks, I have met with many Republican Senators to talk about marriage equality – and I know how seriously and how rigorously they are all weighing this issue. I was deeply moved by the conversation I recently had with Senator McDonald, who spoke so lovingly about his grandkids, and how they had given him new wisdom. And I was just as moved when he and Senator Alesi came out and spoke so forcefully and bluntly about why they will vote in favor of marriage equality. That took real courage, and I thanked both of them for it.

“In all of my conversations with Senators – Senator Lanza, Senator Flanagan, Senator Grisanti, and many others – I could see how personal this was to them and their families, how carefully they were listening to both their parents and children, and how earnestly they are struggling to find the right answers.

“This is not an easy issue – and I understand there's a lot of pressure on Senators from different sides, and a lot of concern about what their constituents will think. This morning, I told them I remember being in their shoes. I wasn't sure what to think of the issue when it first came up years ago. But what ended up really convincing me was something very simple, something that Republicans fight for every single day – keeping government out of areas where it does not belong.

“I've never fit perfectly into either party, but to me, one of the virtues of the GOP has always been its efforts to promote freedom – freedom from over-regulation by government of markets, of businesses, of schools, and, most importantly, of our individual lives. The Republican party stands for personal liberty and freedom. I see marriage equality as entirely consistent with that – and more and more of the party's supporters and activists see it that way as well.

“There was an op-ed in the Daily News yesterday by Margaret Hoover – a Fox News commentator and the great-granddaughter of Herbert Hoover. She argued that marriage equality is consistent with conservative values because marriage is a force for stability between couples, and making them less likely to need government assistance. And I think she's right. Marriage is also force for stability in families. Gay and lesbian New Yorkers have children, and it doesn't do society any good to prevent their parents from marrying. And marriage is a force for stability in communities – as fifty years of social science research tells us. 

“So for all of these reasons, the Republican Party has always promoted marriage – and rightly so. For the very same reasons, the conservative case for marriage equality is principled and consistent. And the religious exemption makes clear that religious organizations will continue to be free to practice their faiths as they see fit.

“I also spoke with the Senators about how ten, or twenty, or thirty years from now, each of us will look back at only a handful of moments that defined our careers in public service. I think this is one of those moments. And I just asked them to follow their hearts and their principles. That way, no matter how they vote, they will have no regrets. And I still believe if they do vote their hearts and principles, New York State will become the next state to adopt marriage equality. Because based on my conversations with Senators, I believe that if the bill comes to the floor, it will pass. And I'm very hopeful that will be any day now. And I also wanted to commend the Governor for being a leader on this issue. Andrew Cuomo specifically said where he stood, and he's fighting to uphold his beliefs. I'd be happy to take a few questions.”

Topics: History, News, Society More Posts About: gay marriage, Michael Bloomberg, Michael Bloomberg, New York, New York, News

Related Posts
  • New York begins offering gender neutral driver’s licenses
  • Former Roommate Indicted For Murder Of Florida LGBTQ Activist Jorge Diaz-Johnston, One of the Public Faces In State Fight For Marriage Equality
  • Russia Blocks Facebook, Accusing it of Restricting Access to Russian Media;
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion …Read More »
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims …Read More »
  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal …Read More »
Previous Post: « Iran Enforces Ban on Necklaces, ‘Glamorous Hairstyles’ on Men
Next Post: News: Immigration, Julia Gillard, Chewing Gum, Ryan Reynolds »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

    Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

  • Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

    Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

  • JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

    JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

  • Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

    Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

Partner Links

  • Ukraine Cripples Russia's Strategic Bomber Fleet
    Ukraine's biggest military operation of the war so far, with 40 […]
  • NBC Host To Mike Johnson: 'Do You Only Believe The CBO When A Dem Is President?'
    NBC host Kristen Welker confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) because […]
  • Sources swear Nicola Peltz & Victoria Beckham beefed over Nicola’s wedding gown
    In 2022, Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham gave their exclusive wedding […]
  • Duchess Meghan now says that ‘WLM’ Season 2 will come out this summer?
    View this post on Instagram A post shared by Meghan, Duchess […]
  • C&L's Late Night Music Club With Lena Hall: 'Hold Me Now'
    I was playing in a very cool corporate band in the […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Ptown Hacks 2018

Read

  • Travel
  • Film
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

×
×