Mayor Bloomberg gave a commencement speech to the graduates of UNC Chapel Hill today, and along with an obligatory joke at Duke's expense and a recitation of the school's fight song, he pointedly criticized the state's vote last week that banned same-sex marriage. Noting that America's generations "expanded upon the freedoms won by their parents and grandparents," Bloomberg said that it was necessary that the graduates keep expanding. “And—I would argue—last week’s referendum banning same-sex marriage shows just how much more work needs to be done to ensure freedom and equality for all people."
Bloomberg was speaking not just as a politician who pushed hard for the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York (and rewarded those who also did at risk to their careers), but as someone who officiated the wedding of two of his staffers.
Tomorrow, President Obama will speak at Barnard's commencement. Look for the president to hammer on someone's record on issues most important to women.
