By Azi Paybarah 8:46pm

weddings

The Mayor and the Newlyweds: Jonatham Mintz (left) and John Feinblatt, with daughters Maeve and Georgia. (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

Bloomberg Officiates First Same-Sex Marriage by a NYC Mayor

The first same-sex marriage officiated by a New York City Mayor took place at Gracie Mansion Sunday evening — the first day New York State law allowed them to take place.

Jonathan Mintz, the commissioner for Consumer Affairs, entered from the eastern side of the balcony surrounding Gracie Mansion. John Feinblatt, a senior advisor to the mayor, entered from the western side of the balcony.

The ceremony was performed at the foot of the steps outside the building, with about 150 guests looking on, including: City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, police commissioner Ray Kelly, former deputy mayors Kevin Sheekey (in a tie, for once), and Ed Skyler, along with dozens of reporters.

Bloomberg — who is not known for being overly sentimental —  joked during the ceremony that he denied the couple’s request for a day off tomorrow. Read More

By Azi Paybarah 7/23/11 5:51pm

weddings

They Do: Mayor Bloomberg will officiate the marriage of two of his aides -- Jonathan Mintz (left) and John Feinblatt -- at Gracie Mansion tomorrow. (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

The Men The Mayor Will Marry: John Feinblatt and Jonathan Mintz

They’ll be wearing dark suits — not tuxedos — and after 14 years of celebrating their first date — May 9 — the inscription on their rings will mark a different anniversary.

From Sunday on, John Feinblatt and Jonathan Mintz will celebrate July 24, 2011 — the first day same-sex marriage is legal in New York.

Feinblatt, a chief advisor to Mayor Bloomberg, and Mintz, the city’s Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, will be married by the mayor tomorrow at Gracie Mansion, making it the first same-sex marriage to be performed in the official residence of the mayor. They’ve also made the rounds in the frantic days before their wedding, telling their story to NPR, and filming a segment with Bloomberg on This Week with Christiane Amanpour.

“We’re writing a book: How to get married in 17 days,” Feinblatt said, sitting in a hotel lobby on West 44th Street. They had just finished the NPR interview and were on their way to their respective offices downtown. Eventually. Read More