The New York state Assembly voted 89 to 52 yesterday in favor of a bill that would legalize same sex marriage in the state. The same bill passed the state Assembly, but was defeated in the state Senate in 2007, according to CNN. The New York state Senate is currently ruled by a slim 32 to 30 Democratic majority and many reports indicate that the bill’s passage in the Senate is uncertain. If the bill passes in the Senate, Governor David Paterson plans to sign it into law.
A Siena College Research Institute poll released in April found the majority of New York residents support the legalization of same-sex marriage in the state. The poll (see PDF) found that New Yorkers support passage by a 53 to 39 percent margin. The strongest support of passage is from Democrats, Independents, women, and young voters and the strongest opposition is from Republicans, men, African Americans, Protestants, and older voters.
If the legislation is approved, New York would be the sixth state to permit same sex marriage in the United States after Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and Maine. Similar legislation is currently under consideration in New Hampshire.
