New York State Senate Rejects Gay Marriage

New York State Senate voted — Gay Marriage rejected with vote results 38 to 24.

[New York state Senate rejects gay marriage, focus turns to N.J.]

After a heated and often emotional debate about same-sex marriage in the New York state Senate, lawmakers rejected a bill that would have made that state the sixth to legalize gay marriage.

While New York Gov. David Paterson backed the bill – and the state Assembly already passed it – Democratic supporters needed some Republican aid to pass the marriage law. No GOP lawmakers voted for the bill, which failed in a 38 to 24 vote.

Gay rights advocates have long been pushing New York lawmakers to take up the marriage question. The sate already recognizes same-sex marriages that have been performed in other states. In anticipation of the measure being taken up in New York, advocacy groups on both sides of the issue have been lobbying lawmakers.