One step closer in New York.
The State Assembly approved legislation on Tuesday night that would make New York the sixth state to allow same-sex marriage — a pivotal vote that shifts the debate to the State Senate, where gay rights advocates and conservative groups alike are redoubling their efforts.
In a sign of how opinion in Albany has shifted on the issue, several members of the Assembly who voted against the measure in 2007 voted in favor of it on Tuesday.
The final vote was 89 to 52, including the backing of five Republicans.
Supporters of the bill aggressively sought new votes, particularly from Assembly members whose districts lie within Senate districts where a senator’s vote is believed to be in play. As a matter of strategy, same-sex marriage advocates said that they hoped to use those votes as a way to leverage support from senators who are worried that supporting the measure could cost them politically.
The New York Senate will be tight, and the bigots are mobilizing with lobbying pressure and a $1.5 million ad campaign (with that stupid "storm is gathering" ad). But the pro-equality forces are playing this one smart, engaging in what is a complex game of chess.
Despite the conservative pressure, two Republicans spoke on Tuesday about why they dropped their opposition to granting same-sex couples the right to marry. Three Democrats who voted no in 2007 switched their votes to yes.
"There’s that little voice inside of you that tells you when you’ve done something right, and when you’ve done something wrong," said Fred W. Thiele Jr., a Republican who represents the Hamptons. "That vote just never felt right to me. That little voice kept gnawing away at me."
Mr. Thiele’s district overlaps with the Senate district of Kenneth P. LaValle, whom gay rights advocates consider to be among the half-dozen or so Republicans open to a yes vote.
The New York Senate requires 32 votes, and Senate leaders says they have 27-28. Gov. David Paterson wants an up-or-down vote in the Senate even if the votes aren't there. Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith wants to wait until he's got the necessary votes.
Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, the legislature has passed its gay marriage bill, so all eyes are on Gov. John Lynch, who has five days to sign, veto, or let become into law without a signature. That five days expired yesterday, but it turns out that the bill still hasn't gotten to his desk since it's missing some key signatures.
But the bills may be a few days away before they get to Lynch, who has not said whether he would veto, sign or allow them to become law without his signature.
Legislative supporters in the House and Senate said they want to get both bills to Lynch at the same time.
The original gay marriage bill (HB 436) needs the signatures of House Speaker Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, and Senate President Sylvia Larsen, D-Concord, before it could head to Lynch's desk.
The bill that fixes the first (HB 310) still needs clearance from legislators who have to confirm it's been technically reviewed before it can then go to Norelli and then on to Larsen.
Once Lynch gets both of them, he has five days to make up his mind or they become law automatically without his signature.