New York, Jun 15 (AFP) New York could vote within days on a bill making the state the sixth in the country to allow gay marriage, officials said.
Same-sex nups have previously failed to pass in New York but newly-elected Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo is championing the measure and yesterday submitted a bill extending full marital rights to couples regardless of gender.
"From the fight for women's suffrage to the struggle for civil rights, New Yorkers have been on the right side of history. But on the issue of marriage equality, our state has fallen behind," Cuomo said in a statement.
Lawmakers break on Monday for a recess, meaning the showdown could come as early as this week.
If the law is passed, New York would join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia -- home to the capital Washington -- in allowing the controversial measure.