New York governor pledges �personal� push for gay marriage

Andrew Cuomo, the Democrat governor of New York, has told gay rights campaigners he will devote his �full attention� to marriage equality.

Speaking to campaigners in a closed meeting, he reportedly said: �For me, this is personal.�

According to the New York Times, participants in the meeting said the governor was �unexpectedly forceful and impassioned� about the issue.

He is to ask his most senior aide and secretary, Steven M Cohen, to oversee the administration�s efforts to bring about marriage equality.

Mr Cuomo is said to be cautious of moving too soon, as a bill was defeated on the Senate floor in 2009 after support was misjudged.

In a statement issued after the meeting, he said: �To me this is more than just a piece of legislation. This is about the lives of people who I have known for many years, who currently are without the rights to which they are entitled.�

He was elected last November and promised to campaign for gay marriage.

Five states � Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington DC � currently allow gay couples to marry.

California�s ban is under review, while Maryland is expected to be next to make the change.