New York state Senate again delays gay marriage vote

The bill is one vote short of enough support for passage in the state Senate. It was approved in the state Assembly by a comfortable margin.

If approved, New York would be the sixth and by far the most populous U.S. state to legalize gay marriage, and the vote would be a huge victory for the gay rights movement.

"For the good health of all the members and our guests that are here, we apologize but we will be adjourning," Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos told reporters late on Thursday.

Skelos said Republican senators would privately discuss the bill to legalize same-sex marriage on Friday and whether a vote should be taken on the issue.

Republicans hold a narrow majority in the Senate and have been holding out for exemptions to same sex marriage for religious groups opposed to gay nuptials.

The sticking point for some Republicans is whether exemptions should be extended only to clergy and some religious groups or to any organization or individual with a religious objection to same-sex marriage.