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Paterson promises N.Y. same-sex bill

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Gov. David Paterson of New York, shown on Dec. 2, 2008. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch)
Gov. David Paterson of New York, shown on Dec. 2, 2008. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch) 
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Published: April 10, 2009 at 1:08 PM

NEW YORK, April 10 (UPI) -- New York Gov. David Paterson says he will introduce a bill to the state Senate that would legalize same-sex unions in his state.

The New York Post said Paterson vowed to introduce the controversial legislation if members of the state Senate do not take action.

"I'm going to put the bill out and just let people fight it out," Paterson said Thursday.

"I was going to do it anyway, but I think the Supreme Court decision in Iowa and the legislative passage of it in Vermont created a lot more publicity for it," the governor said.

Same-sex unions remain a controversial matter throughout the United States despite Iowa and Vermont becoming the newest U.S. states to recognize full marriage equality of same-sex couples.

The only other states that honor the unions are Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The Post said New York Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith told supporters of same-sex unions in January that the measure will not receive the 32 votes it will need to pass the Senate.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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