Paterson has ordered the New York State Senate into extraordinary session on Thursday, June 25.

Unlike the proclaimation that ordered the Senate into session on Wednesday, the Thursday session does not have marriage equality legislation on the Paterson created agenda.

Late Wednesday, as a presumptive strike against the comedy that was anticipated in the New York State Senate, The Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Allen Van Cappelle offered

"State Senators need to know that it is unacceptable to leave Albany without voting on and passing the marriage bill. Marriage equality is not a partisan issue and should never be used as a political football in the current situation that has caused complete gridlock in the state capitol. Thousands of New York families expect and need Senators to immediately figure out a way to work together and start doing the people's business."

The Tuesday extraordinary session that had been ordered by the Governor had seen chaos in the Senate Chamber with the Republican members of the Senate holding a shadow session as the Democrats carried out the business of the Senate from the rostrum.

The Senate Democrats questioned the constitutionality of the extraordinary session as well as the legality of any legislation passed by the Senate due to the fact that the Assembly had not also beed called back into extraordinary session;

Van Cappelle urged the Senators to resolve the current impasse and get to the business of the peoples business.

"We expect that marriage will be at the top of the agenda when the stalemate is over and the Senate resumes its business, but only when we are certain that any such vote taken by the Senate is valid and not subject to legal challenge. The bill must be handled respectfully and given its due debate so that Senators can vote their conscience on this vitally important issue." —Tim Moran