The New York state Assembly approved a bill allowing same sex marriage Wednesday. The bill is likely to face a vote in the state Senate Friday.

The Democratic-dominated Assembly voted 80 to 63 in favor of the marriage equality bill. First year governor Andrew Cuomo introduced the bill. It was the third time the Assembly passed a gay marriage bill in recent years.

Several members of both the Republican and Democratic parties say their religious convictions prohibit them from supporting the gay marriage bill.

The state by state battle over gay marriage has become one of the most contentious social issues in the United States ahead of the 2012 presidential and congressional elections.