Editor's note: The following are New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's remarks as prepared for delivery today at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

"I want to thank Rachel and our hosts here at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- After hours of poignant, somber testimony, a Republican plan to ban gay marriage in the Minnesota Constitution passed the Minnesota House on Saturday.

Amid the din of chants against the measure booming through the marble halls outside the chamber, the House of Representatives took up the proposal, and after five hours of speeches voted 70-62 to place a question on the ballot in the 2012 general election about whether the constitution should be changed to say that marriage is the union of a man and a woman.

NEW YORK -- In its continued series of videos from well-known New Yorkers who support marriage equality in their home state, Vogue magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour is the latest to film a "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality" video.

"As far as I’m concerned, having the right to say ‘I Do’ is as fundamental as the right to vote," Wintour states clearly in the video.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Equality California (EQCA) has put together a survey and a series of town hall meetings across the state to discuss the possibility of putting a measure on the ballot in 2012 to overturn Proposition 8. If the measure were successful, marriage equality would be restored in the state.

EQCA says that conversations have started about the possibility of taking such a measure to the ballot because of the numerous delays in the federal case against Proposition 8.