Governor Paterson Ready to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

New York, NY —

Now that Iowa and Vermont have done it, Governor Paterson says he's ready to put forth a measure to legalize same-sex marriage, even if the legislature doesn't appear ready to pass it.

PATERSON: Let the legislation go up or down based on whether people like it or not. It's not binding, in other words, next year if more people are gonna vote for something and it passes, then it would. So that's what's happened on this particular issue but I would sign the legislation if it's passed.

The move is raising concern among gay rights advocates, who say the measure's destined to fail.

Same sex marriage has support in New York's Assembly, but it's unclear if there are enough votes to pass the measure in the Senate. While a majority of Senate Democrats say they support gay marriage, Bronx Democrat Ruben Diaz Senior does not. Diaz says Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith assured him that a same sex marriage bill won't make it to the floor this session.