Jun 26, 2009  |  By: Chris Johnson  | COMMENTS     

Despite a feud that’s engulfed the New York Senate, the Human Rights Campaign was hopeful this week the chamber would vote on same-sex marriage legislation “very soon.”

HRC had previously said a marriage vote was possible Wednesday, but Marty Rouse, the organization’s national field director, told the Blade that day that “it’s looking very likely that there isn’t going to be any business in Albany today.”

“We don’t know when this vote is coming, but we fully expect this vote is coming soon, very soon,” he said.

Approval in the Senate is the last major obstacle in passing same-sex marriage legislation in New York. Last month, the Assembly passed legislation that would grant marriage rights to gay couples, 89-52.

Gov. David Paterson, a Democrat and supporter of same-sex marriage, called the Senate into special sessions Tuesday and Wednesday after the chamber’s regular session expired on Monday. The governor asked lawmakers to take up unfinished legislative business, including the marriage bill.

But control of the Senate was in limbo because changes in votes for leadership earlier this month left the chamber evenly split, 31-31, between Democrats and Republicans.

Activity in the Senate did not go smoothly during Tuesday’s special session. Refusing to acknowledge that either party was in control, both sides held concurrent and separate legislative sessions, according to the New York Times.

“Side by side, the parties, each asserting that it rightfully controls the Senate, talked and sometimes shouted over one another, gaveling through votes that are certain to be disputed,” the Times reported. “There were two Senate presidents, two gavels, two sets of bills being voted on.”

Whether or not the bills passed Tuesday by senators are legitimate was in question, the Times reported. Paterson has vowed to continue calling the Senate into special session every day until both sides resolve their differences, the Times reported.

Despite the complications, Rouse said approval of the marriage bill remained possible before lawmakers break for the summer.

“There is significant interest from people on both sides of the aisle to get significant legislation, including the marriage equality bill, done before the session is over — if we keep the pressure on,” he said.

A poll published by Quinnipiac University on Tuesday found that a slim majority of New York voters support same-sex marriage. The poll found that 51 percent of voters approved of gay nuptials, while 41 percent oppose them and 8 percent are undecided.

This poll marks the first time that Quinnipiac found majority support for same-sex marriage in New York.

Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a statement that support among New York residents is the result of activists’ work in the state.

“Supporters have worked hard in the last six weeks, moving the needle from dead even to slightly ahead,” she said. “Who knows how far they can move that needle in the next six weeks if the State Legislature doesn’t act.”

Rouse said putting off the vote on the marriage bill “provides us with more time to continue the momentum in building grassroots support for this marriage bill … all across the state.”

“We now sort of have the luxury of time to keep the pressure on and keep building our support for marriage equality,” he said.

Rouse encouraged supporters of same-sex marriage to contact lawmakers to urge them to pass the legislation.

“We need to reach out to [our] friends in New York and urge them — family, friends and neighbors, straight and gay — to contact their senators in New York,” he said. “We can win marriage equality if we do not let up.”



Chris Johnson can be reached at

cjohnson@washblade.com.