Is state Senator James Alesi's
appearance at a gay marriage fundraiser the crack in the New York
Senate Republican caucus that supporters have been wishing for?
The
New York Post is reporting that the Republican put in an
appearance at the Empire State Pride Agenda's Saturday fundraiser at
the Rochester Convention Center.
“Having Alesi there was seen as an
important development since the dinner was all about marriage
equality,” a source told the paper.
An
AP story released over the weekend quotes sources inside the
Senate Republican conference saying they've seen no change in votes
since a 2009 gay marriage bill was defeated in the chamber. That
effort died in the Senate with no Republican support.
Alesi, however, remained mum on whether
he's changed his stance on the issue, saying only that his first-GOP
vote (votes are taken alphabetically) would affect how other
Republican senators voted.
“My vote is probably the most
significant vote on the issue, because how I vote will send a message
down the line,” he told the paper.
A second Republican, Senator Andrew
Lanza of Staten Island, last week said he was reconsidering his
position.
“I'm listening. I am entertaining
all those points of view that are out there. I'm trying to discern
why or whether we should make a move from what is the status quo,”
said Lanza.