NYC mayor to speak out for gay marriage

(New York) Mayor Michael Bloomberg is planning to deliver a speech Thursday making the case for gay marriage.

The New York City mayor has been a vocal supporter of legalizing same-sex marriage. He visited Albany earlier this month to lobby state lawmakers who are considering the issue. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is gay, accompanied him.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been pushing the Legislature to make gay marriage legal, but well-funded conservative and religious opposition has struck back.

Last week, a day after the National Organization for Marriage pledged $1.5 million to fight gay marriage, Cuomo said he wouldn’t bring the issue to a vote unless he felt it would pass.

Opponents have introduced a new “defense of marriage” bill that wouldn’t recognize gay marriages sealed in other states.