The battle to legalize gay marriage in
New York is getting increasingly louder as demonstrators on Wednesday
rally in Albany, but the measure remains deadlocked in the Senate,
CNN reported.
Governor Andrew Cuomo's plan to make
New York the sixth – and most populous – state to endorse the
institution was approved by the Assembly last Wednesday.
But the Senate remains evenly divided
on the issue, with two Republicans joining all but one Democrat,
Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx, in support of the measure.
Several fence-sitting senators have called for greater religious
protections, and Cuomo has agreed to the request.
(Related: Senator
Ruben Diaz trapped in his own anti-gay marriage logic.)
Emerging from a closed-door meeting on
Tuesday, lawmakers told reporters that agreement had been reached for
New York City rent control and a state-wide property tax cap, paving
the way for the chamber to concentrate on marriage equality.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos,
however, said the issue of legalizing gay marriage remained
unresolved.
Cuomo once again called on the Senate
to vote on the issue: “I believe the people are entitled to a vote
and let the elected officials stand up and say 'yea' or 'nay,'”
Cuomo said. “I believe that's how democracy works … I believe
there will be a vote and I am cautiously optimistic that it will
pass.”