After an effort to force a vote in New York’s Senate to legalize same-sex marriage appeared all but lost in an extraordinary session, Gov. David Paterson is placing the bill on agendas for special sessions on Monday and Tuesday.
Paterson is urging a vote even if the bill he strongly supports fails. He notes that all civil rights fights have grown from setbacks, and decried cowardice in the face of failure.
The Democrat says putting senators on the spot for their position is better than inaction while forces try to muster the votes behind the scenes.
New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, which opposes the bill, says the failure of a vote on the measure Tuesday is a crushing blow to the advocates.