The Democratically-controlled New York State Senate will vote on a marriage equality bill before the end of the year, according to Gov. David Paterson (pictured), who went before the cameras tonight to explain a deal reached with Senate leaders.  ”This is the first time the Senate leadership has indicated that it will support a vote on marriage equality,” Paterson told the New York Observer.

Marriage equality advocates were pushing for a vote on a pending marriage equality bill today, but by mid-afternoon it became clear the vote would not happen this week.  A Senate Democratic spokesman confirmed Paterson’s announcement, saying, “There is a commitment to bring the bill to the floor for a vote before the end of the year, and we will commit the full spectrum of our energies to making marriage equality a reality in the state of New York.”