New York, NY —

New York Senator Charles Schumer has changed his mind about same-sex marriage and says he now fully supports it. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports:

REPORTER: Gay marriage advocates are lauding Schumer's reversal, saying his support will give them momentum to pass state legislation. Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, says Schumer is like many other Americans who are now more open to the issue.

VAN CAPPELLE: He resembles our families who 10 years ago were not in the place of supporting marriage equality but today are.

REPORTER: Schumer had been the only statewide elected official not to support granting gay couples the same rights and privileges available to married heterosexuals. He made his remarks to a group of gay leaders Sunday night when he also said he'll work to repeal the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits many forms of legal marriage for gay couples. For WNYC, I'm Elaine Rivera.