Power struggle complicates NY bid for gay marriage

New York is close to becoming the first state to pass legislation making gay marriage legal but, like many political issues in the state capital Albany, it has fallen victim to a power struggle.

Democrats won a majority in the upper house Senate for the first time in more than 40 years in the November 4 election, but three Democratic senators refuse to back fellow Democratic Sen. Malcolm Smith as majority leader without concessions.

The Republicans could regain their power in the Senate if the three Democratic senators, who include longtime gay marriage opponent Sen. Ruben Diaz, opt to vote with them.

“I will not give my vote to a leader that will bring gay marriage to the state,” Diaz, a Pentecostal minister, said in an interview. “Have a voter referendum. Let the people decide.”

Connecticut and Massachusetts are the only states that allow same-sex marriage as a result of court rulings. No state legislature has instituted gay marriage into law.

 See Power struggle complicates NY bid for gay marriage
Reuters – USA