ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Senate Republicans in New York say protecting religious groups that won’t perform gay weddings or offer services to gay couples is a major factor in their refusal so far to bring same-sex marriage to a vote.
They emerged from the latest closed-door caucus Friday no closer to legalizing same-sex marriage.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s bill already has some protections. No clergy would be forced to preside over a gay marriage.
Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos (SKEH’-lohs) did not say when negotiations might end or when the conference could vote to send the bill up for a vote, or kill it.
Conservative Rev. Duane Motley says that shows growing opposition to the gay marriage bill in the Senate, the last hurdle in New York.
The Democrat-led Assembly already passed it.
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