After a pivotal Democrat who had opposed the bill joined the cause, same-sex-marriage supporters focused on lining up the four Republican votes needed for passage. Reaching out to wavering Republican lawmakers again and again, Cuomo vowed to campaign for them, insisting he was more of an asset than their support for gay marriage would be a liability.
When the group of Republican donors promised Senator James S. Alesi of suburban Rochester backing in return for a yes vote, at first he refused. The campaign homed in on him, deluging him with postcards from constituents and scoring an endorsement for the legislation from Xerox, a major employer in his district.
Alesi became the first Republican senator to support the bill.
A weak opposition As the end of the legislative session drew near, traditional opponents of same-sex marriage seemed reluctant to engage on the matter, according to Barbaro.
The Catholic Church, expected to protest the bill, remained largely silent.
Meanwhile, the Senate’s Republican caucus spent long hours debating whether to allow a vote on the bill.
Cuomo invited the Republicans to his home and delivered an impassioned speech in support of gays’ right to wed. Ultimately, Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos announced that members would be free to vote according to their conscience.
Republican senators negotiated changes to the bill to protect religious institutions opposed to same-sex weddings. Three other Republicans, worn down by intense and targeted tactics, decided to support the bill. On June 24, 2011, the Senate voted to legalize same-sex marriage in the state of New York.