New York state Senator Greg Ball has
signaled he would vote against a proposed gay marriage bill in New
York.
The 33-year-old Republican is listed
among the
eight undecided senators on the issue, five of whom are
Republicans.
In
comments published Monday by the New York Daily News, Ball
signaled that he isn't that undecided.
“If you're going to pass a marriage
bill, real religious exemptions and carveouts to protect the Catholic
Church and other religious groups need to be included,” the
freshman senator told the paper.
“Short of that, I don't think you'll
see a marriage bill pass,” Ball added.
The bill's language in the Senate has
yet to be introduced, but broad exemptions to the state's
discrimination laws for individuals and businesses based on their
religious affiliation will most likely not be included.
Previously proposed bills have stipulated
that clergy cannot be forced to marry a gay or lesbian couple.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is spearheading
the latest effort to make New York the sixth state to legalize gay
marriage. The Senate's loudest opponent of the popular governor's
plan is Ruben Diaz Sr., who
has argued against the institution at rallies and in interviewers
because being gay is a choice.