The lawmakers of New York have stunned several advocates of gay marriage by rejecting a bill that would have made New York the sixth state that would approve gay marriage. The lawmakers in Maine have also voted down the bill that would legalize gay marriage.

A total of 32 votes were required in the state measure in order for the bill to pass. However, the New York senate’s votes had fallen short by eight in a 24-38 decision.

David Paterson as well as the Manhattan democrat, Thomas Duane, were two of the few senators who had expressed disappointment regarding the bill after the vote. Senator Ruben Diaz, the conservative minister from the Bronx, had led the Republican opposition during the debate. He said that if the senate puts the issue before the voters, the voters are more likely to reject it. He strongly suggested to his colleagues to “let the people decide.”

Although the bill that legalizes gay marriage was voted down in the state of New York, the similar bills have already passed in other several states such as Iowa, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Apart from voting down the bill, the New York Senate also disapproves of civil unions. However, their laws are not as rigid since they have a number of executive orders as well as court decisions that grant several rights to gay couples that are also enjoyed by married couples.

Contrary to the results of the vote, a poll released by the Marist College had shown that 51% of New Yorkers do support the legalization of gay marriage while 42% disapprove of the measure. The poll had surveyed a total of 805 registered voters from November 12 to 16. The Marist College poll however, has an estimated 3.5 points margin of error.