Family Life

06.22.11 | Sarah Harnisch

A gay marriage bill could hit the New York State Senate floor today. The only thing that appears to be standing in the way is a vote on expiring rent laws -- something that affects only New York City and has to be voted on before the gay marriage bill.  If lawmakers get that out of the way, same-sex marriage will be next. Governor Andrew Cuomo said, "I believe it will be brought for a vote. I believe it should be brought for a vote. And I'm cautiously optimistic that it's going to pass."

The Senate needs just one more vote to pass the bill, which has already cleared the state assembly. Hundreds of people on both sides of the aisle continued to rally at the state house yesterday. 63,000 signatures were presented to the Senate from supporters who are against gay marriage on Monday. The word is that New York Republican Senator Greg Ball could be the one that swings the vote in favor of gay marriage. He says he may sign the bill if it has protections for religious groups in it, something the governor has been working on for days. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms sent out an email Tuesday night calling on every Christian to show up at 9:30 this morning in Albany to stand for traditional marriage.