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Gay marriage in NY now up to GOP Senate
June 16, 2011
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The future of gay marriage in New York is now in the hands of the Republican Senate, under intense pressure from its allied Conservative Party.
The Democrat-led Assembly easily passed Gov. Andrew Cuomo's bill Wednesday night 80-63 to legalize same-sex marriage. National advocates descending on Albany hope the Senate's approval will reinvigorate the nationwide effort.
A similar bill was defeated in 2009 in a vote led by Republican senators. But the unofficial tally now appears to show a tie in the 62-seat chamber, with at least two Republicans still undecided.
The Senate's Republican majority is scheduled for a second day of closed-door meetings on Thursday. The majority could then release the bill to a floor vote as early as Thursday afternoon.
(Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
