(Creative Commons photo)

After introducing a bill for an immediate vote on legislation to legalize same-sex marriages in the state of New York last Thursday, Gov. David Paterson is now changing his course of action. Paterson announced yesterday that he agrees with State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and will not put a same-sex marriage bill to vote without being certain it will pass, contradicting his previous suggestion that the bill should be put to an up-or-down vote regardless of the chances of passage.

The bill would allow same-sex spouses to enjoy the same legal status and treatment under New York law as heterosexual couples regarding issues such as property ownership, inheritance, health care, and insurance coverage. 

In his proposal last Thursday the governor called for immediate action. “For too long, LGBT New Yorkers have been told to wait for their civil rights and personal freedom. We will not wait any longer. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for leadership. Now is the time to march forward together,” Paterson is quoted saying in a press release.

So why the sudden reverse? Governor Paterson explained to reporters, "On this particular bill, there are a lot of other issues related to it. Senator Smith knows the inertia of the Senate better than anyone else . . . I'll stick with his final judgment."