Gillibrand Makes N.Y. Marriage Calls

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York has made personal phone calls to Democratic state senators undecided about the marriage equality bill, which leaders have promised will see a vote before the end of the year.

The senator's office confirmed that calls were made but declined to say who received them, according to Liz Benjamin of the New York Daily News.

"She made calls, yes; and they were private conversations," Gillibrand spokesman Matt Canter told Benjamin. "She did it because it's an issue she cares deeply about."

Gillibrand, formerly a congresswoman from upstate New York, announced her support for marriage equality in January, when she was appointed by Gov. David Paterson to take the seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton, who left to become secretary of State.

The senator, also an outspoken proponent of repealing "don't ask, don't tell," faces a special election in 2010. Her Republican challenger could be former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is considering a run. She also may face a gay but relatively unknown primary opponent, Suffolk County legislator Jon Cooper.

New York state senators return to their special session in Albany on Monday, with a resolution on the budget crisis still incomplete. It is widely acknowledged that legislators must address the budget before taking up marriage equality, which Governor Paterson and Democratic senate leaders have pledged to vote on before the end of the year.

State senator Tom Duane, the gay man who sponsored the marriage equality bill, recently told Advocate.com that he remains confident the bill will pass with bipartisan support. Democrats hold a slim 32-30 majority in the senate.

The marriage equality bill passed the state assembly in May.