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Bloomberg To Officiate One Of NY's First Gay Weddings
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jul 8, 2011
Modified Jul 8, 2011
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Kristen Artz/Office of the Mayor
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jul 8, 2011
Modified Jul 8, 2011
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Gay marriage is only days away from being the law in New York State (the City Clerk offices will be open just for the occasion) and gay couples across the state are scrambling to plan their nuptials—seeking venues, caterers and folks to officiate the occasion. But one couple, at least, has that last part down. On Sunday, July 24, Mayor Bloomberg—who previously has only presided over two weddings: his daughter Emma's first and his predecessor Rudy Giuliani's third—will be officiating the marriage of his chief policy adviser, John Feinblatt, and Jonathan Mintz, the city’s commissioner for consumer affairs, at Gracie Mansion.
And apparently the idea was all Hizzoner's. Bloomberg reportedly approached Feinblatt and told him that if he were to be marrying his partner of 14 years and needed someone to do the honors, “I’d really love to.” The couple said yes. The Mayor has credited the pair with helping him make a personal connection to the marriage equality fight. “John and Jonathan are two of the smartest and hardest-working people in our administration," he told the Times. "This just felt like the best way for me to say thank you.”
And so the Feinblatt and Mintz, with their two daughters at their side, will be married later this month "on the lawn of Gracie Mansion, under a tent packed with city officials and food from around New York State."
Oh, and because a good engagement story is always good for a smile, here's theirs:
On Sunday, Mr. Mintz gathered his daughters at the family’s weekend home on Long Island and asked them a question. Wasn’t it time that he married their father?
The girls jumped up and down and screamed “Yes!” Mr. Mintz then grabbed a fistful of flowers from the yard and called Mr. Feinblatt outside. With the girls standing a few feet away, Mr. Mintz bent down on one knee and made it official.
“He said yes,” Mr. Mintz recalled. “It would have been pretty awkward if he hadn’t after 14 years.”
Later that day, the two men took their daughters ring shopping.
Tagged
gay marriage
gracie mansion
manhattan
marriage equality
mayor bloomberg
Garth Johnston
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