by Rex Wockner
National News Briefs
Blogging for the Yonkers Tribune, former New York City Mayor Ed Koch came out in support of same-sex marriage May 11.
"I believe that same-sex marriage will be approved by a majority of the fifty states in the Union within the next five years," Koch wrote. "When that occurs, the federal resistance will end and the Congress will vote in favor of federal recognition of same-sex marriages with equal benefits to both homosexual and heterosexual couples."
"As a matter of fundamental fairness, civil marriage must be made available for all consenting adults, irrespective of sexual orientation," he said. "And it will happen more quickly than the public thinks."
Koch long has been rumored to be gay but has refused to discuss his sexual orientation when asked about it by journalists.
In February, he told The New York Times: "I do not want to add to the acceptability of asking every candidate, 'Are you straight or gay or lesbian?' and make it a legitimate question, so I don't submit to that question. I don't care if people think I'm gay because I don't answer it. I'm flattered that, at 84, people are interested in my sex life – and, it's quite limited."