Mayor Bloomberg Heads Same-Sex Wedding Between Two NYC Officials
Updated on July 24, 2010
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- On Sunday, New York became the sixth state to allow same-sex couples to marry, seeing hundreds of couples exchange vows.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg officiated at the wedding for Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz and policy advisor John Feinblatt.
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"This sends a message to the world that New York is open to everyone," said Bloomberg. "In this case, everybody should have the right to get married and every religion should have the right to decide what's appropriate within their religion and I think New York has done that and I'm very proud of the state."
Mayor Bloomberg has been a staunch advocate for legalizing gay marriage in the state.
There were 823 couples scheduled to get married at clerks' offices in all five boroughs on Sunday.
City clerk Michael McSweeny said extra judges would be on hand to ease the process. "We say that everybody should be ready to spend at least an hour," said McSweeny.
That's because judges must waive the 24-hour waiting period which city council speaker Christine Quinn says is a formality.
"Typically, they deny marriage waivers if either or both of the applicants seem to be intoxicated," explained Quinn.
Given how long gay couples have waited for marriage equality, she says she didn't expect anyone to be turned away.
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