Governor says NY Senate will vote on gay marriage this year

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New York governor David Paterson has said that he is committed to ensuring that the Senate votes on a gay marriage bill by the end of this year.

Paterson called the state’s upper house to deal with the issue in a special legislative session yesterday but the vote did not happen. There has been no date set for it.

The bill passed the state’s Assembly in May but there are fears the Senate does not have enough signatures to pass it. Thirty-two votes are needed to pass the bill.

It must be approved by the Senate before going to Paterson for signing. He cannot force the Senate to pass the bill, but said recently he was optimistic that it would. Paterson has spoken of his support for gay marriage a number of times.

According to AP, Paterson told reporters yesterday: “I implore them that I would rather see an up or down vote, than no action at all.

“Historically, I think we have lost touch with how movements of equality were reached. There were a lot of ups and downs. If this bill is put on the floor, there are a lot of people whose consciences will let them vote for the bill, but who just don’t want to stomach all the activity around them if they take a position before the vote.”

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