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Road paved for marriage equality vote

The New York state Senate is expected to take an up or down vote on the marriage equality bill later tonight.
A marriage equality supporter protesting at New York's Capitol in Albany on Friday.
A marriage equality supporter protesting at New York's Capitol in Albany on Friday.

The New York state Senate is expected to take an up or down vote on the marriage equality bill later tonight. We're hearing midnight-ish.

Majority Leader Dean Skelos said Republicans agreed to send it to the floor after some language was tweaked to "protect the rights of religious institutions." He added, "I appreciate the governors cooperation in working with us to address these important issues and concerns as I have said many times this is a very difficult issue and it will be a vote of conscious for every member of the Senate.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo promised to sign it, though it's still TBD on whether or not it will pass.

New York would join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C., in allowing same-sex couples to wed.