Watch NY State gay marriage debate live

Click here to watch the New York State Senate debate the proposed gay marriage bill.

Earlier this evening, Stephen Saland, a veteran Republican state senator in New York, tells The Associated Press he will vote yes on gay marriage, apparently giving the measure the support it needs to become law.

Before he announced his intention, 31 senators were in favor, one short of a majority. If they all still vote that way, New York will become the sixth state, and by far the largest, where gay marriage is legal once Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs it into law.