N.Y. Gay Marriage Hope Fading?

As New York lawmakers prepare for next week's special session called by Gov. David Paterson, some are questioning whether the senate will bring the marriage equality bill to the floor for a vote, despite previous assurances from some Democratic leaders.

Senate majority leader John Sampson, a Democrat from Brooklyn, is reluctant to bring the bill to the floor unless he is certain it has the 32 votes needed to pass, according to New York magazine's Daily Intel blog. The question is whether those 32 votes exist in the current climate.

"Privately, Sampson has told Republicans he has 25 or 26 votes (out of 32 Democrats), leaving him six or seven GOP votes short of passage," reported the Daily Intel. "Sources say Republicans could deliver perhaps three or four, but only if Sampson guarantees at least 29 or 30 on his end."

The assembly passed a marriage equality bill for the second time this spring, but the senate has yet to vote on it.

Same-sex marriage advocates plan to rally in Union Square in New York City on Wednesday evening.