NYC Mayor Donates Money to Support Washington’s Gay Marriage Initiative

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg suddenly has an interest in the opposite corner of the country.

Washington United for Marriage, a group raising funds to support R-74 (which would uphold Gov. Gregoire's gay marriage bill) has announced New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will pledge to match up to $250,000 in donations made to the group by the end of this week.

According to reports, Bloomberg "does not believe the government can tell any class of couples they cannot marry." Washington United for Marriage has raised about $10.5 million compared to the grass-roots Preserve Marriage Washington, which opposes the law. It was Preserve Marriage Washington that got the required number of signatures to put the law on hold and send it to the November ballot.

It's interesting that Mayor Bloomberg believes the government cannot judge or make laws about marriage, but when it comes to soda, food and the eating habits of New Yorkers, he is not hesitant to support the recent controversial soda ban that prohibits the sale of larger than 16 oz. containers of pop.

It is not known what Bloomberg's connection to Washington United for Marriage is, or exactly why he chose to support R-74. A "yes" vote on the measure preserves Gregoire's bill; a "no" vote would reject the bill.