Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Bloomberg Speaks Up For Gay Marriage And His Lesbian Niece

By

Jen Chung

Published May 26, 2011

Modified May 26, 2011

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Mayor Bloomberg and his niece Rachel at Cooper Union

 

NYC Mayor's Office

By

Jen Chung

Published May 26, 2011

Modified May 26, 2011

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Mayor Bloomberg made the case for New York State passing gay marriage by making the point that the majority of Americans (and New Yorkers) support it, "The question for every New York state lawmaker is: Do you want to be remembered as a leader on civil rights? Or an obstructionist? On matters of freedom and equality, history has not remembered obstructionists kindly." And he brought up his close, personal connection—his niece Rachel Tiven, who is a lesbian.

"There’s a reason I’m so passionate about this issue - and so determined to push for change. I see the pain the status quo causes - and I cannot defend it. When I meet a New Yorker who is gay, when I speak with friends and members of my staff who are gay, or when I look into the eyes of my niece, Rachel, I cannot tell them that their government is correct in denying them the right to marry. I cannot tell them that marriage is not for them. I cannot tell them that a civil union is good enough."

You can read the speech in full here; Bloomberg also said, “So the question really is: So, why now? Because this is our time to stand up for equality. This is our time to conquer the next frontier of freedom. This is our time to be as bold and brave as the pioneers who came before us. And this is our time to lead the American journey forward... In our city, there is no shame in being true to yourself. There is only pride. We take you as you are - and we let you be who you wish to be. That is the essence of New York City."

Bloomberg has poured money into gay marriage-supporting causes (though some advocates claim he's not doing enough). The stumbling block in New York is getting a bill passed in the notoriously difficult State Senate, which the Republicans control and which also has some very anti-gay marriage Democrats.

According to the Daily Politics, Tiven is "the eldest daughter of Bloomberg’s sister Marjorie, introduced her uncle before the address. According to a Bloomberg aide, she has three children with a female partner. Tiven is the executive director of Immigration Equality, an advocacy organization that fights for equal immigration rights for gays and lesbians"

Tagged

civil rights

gay marriage

mayor bloomberg

rachel tiven

same sex marriage

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE news

Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn

Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.

By

Rosemary Misdary

Published Oct 16, 2026 at 4:22 p.m. ET

Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say

A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.

By

Samantha Max

News

Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say

A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.

By

Samantha Max

Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time

By

David Brand

School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year

By

Jessica Gould

NYC’s bridges can last 'forever,' if we take care of them

By

Clayton Guse

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .