NEW PALTZ – Governor David Paterson Thursday announced nine items he wants addressed when he calls lawmakers back to Albany for a special session on November 10.

Chief among them is closing the $10 billion deficit the state is facing. But also on the agenda is same-sex marriage.

The Assembly has already passed that legislation, but the Senate has thus far resisted it.

Hudson Valley LGBTQ President Virginia Apuzzo said the heat is on to persuade opponents to change their minds.

“There has certainly been a significant amount of pressure and communication with the senators who have been reluctant to realize this is an equality issue and the center is participating in the equality vigils that will take place across the state,” she said.

Those will be held this coming week. The Hudson Valley event will be held first, in New Paltz on Sunday evening, because, as Apuzzo notes, that is where the first same-sex “marriages” were performed in New York State.