Gov. David Paterson (D-NY) has reversed his decision to push a same-sex marriage bill through the state legislature, bowing to political pressure from Sen. Malcolm Smith of Queens who supports the bill, but urges the governor to wait until he secures more votes in the narrowly led state senate.The senate has a small Democratic majority (32-30).
Last week, Gov. Paterson gained capital in the LGBT community by making good on a promise of equal rights. He said, "For too long we have allowed the perception that gay and lesbian New Yorkers have the same privileges as their own straight brothers and sisters or their mothers & fathers. That is not the case. Too many cannot even make medical decisions on the prospect of the care for their partners, nor can they visit them in the hospital."
Apparently, those in need of the benefits that accompany full legal marriage will have to wait a little longer as the New York Senate plays political pattycake.
An April 20th Siena Research poll showed Gov. Paterson's approval rating at 27 percent, down two points from the previous month.
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