Bloomberg said in an interview that he goes "back-and-forth" on whether same-sex marriages should be allowed, but believes these couples deserve equality.
"Personally, I've always thought that civil unions should have exactly the same rights as marriage," Bloomberg said during the interview, to be broadcast today on WPIX-TV. "I don't think you should discriminate against anybody."
The mayor of New Paltz, north of New York City, performed 25 same-sex ceremonies a week ago. Mayor Jason West faces 19 criminal counts and could face jail time, but agreed to abide by a ruling that temporarily barred him from performing more same-sex marriages.
Still, West's decision did not stop gay wedding ceremonies from taking place in the village yesterday. Thirteen same-sex couples gathered under a packed tent in a private parking lot on the village's Main Street to be married by local Unitarian ministers.
Unitarian ministers have been performing gay marriages across the country for years. Yesterday's weddings were not legally sanctioned. In New York City, the gay rights group Lambda Legal said it filed suit Friday in state court seeking the right for same-sex couples to become legally wed.
"This is the whole enchilada," said Kevin Cathcart, executive director of the group.
