Cuomo to Hold Marriage Strategy Session

New York governor Andrew Cuomo has called a confidential meeting with some advocates Wednesday in order to strategize how to pass the marriage equality bill.

The New York Times reported on the meeting in Albany, which will include the governor and about a dozen of the state's leading marriage equality advocates.

"Mr. Cuomo's participation, which was confirmed on Tuesday by his spokesman, Josh Vlasto, is viewed as the strongest evidence yet of his commitment to passing same-sex marriage this year, despite its rejection by the legislature in 2009," according to the Times.

Last month, Cuomo indicated that he would like to see the Republican-controlled senate pass the marriage equality bill by June. No Republicans publicly support the bill at this point. Two years ago, the bill failed by a 38-24 vote in the Democratic-controlled senate.

According to the Times, "On Wednesday, during the strategy session, the governor will meet with Christine C. Quinn, the speaker of the City Council, who is openly gay; Brian Ellner, who is pushing for same-sex marriage in New York for the Human Rights Campaign, a national advocacy group; Ross D. Levi, the head of the state's leading gay rights organization, the Empire State Pride Agenda; and Richard Socarides, a former Clinton administration official and president of Equality Matters, a new advocacy group. Lawmakers who have sponsored the marriage legislation in the past, like Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell and Senator Tom Duane, are expected to attend as well, according to those told of the meeting."