( CNN ) -- Gov . David Paterson pledged to keep fighting for same-sex marriage in New York after the state Senate on Wednesday killed a bill that would have legalized the practice . The bill had Paterson 's support and had passed the state Assembly . Supporters predicted a close vote going into Wednesday 's Senate debate . But eight of Paterson 's fellow Democrats , including two members of the Senate leadership , joined a unanimous Republican caucus on the 38-24 vote . In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon , Paterson said , `` It is always darkest before the dawn . `` As disappointed as we are today , let 's get up tomorrow and redouble our efforts , '' he said . `` We are going to lay the foundation to make people feel comfortable to vote their conscience and not fear political backlash . '' iReport : Protesters flock to Times Square . Supporters promised to bring back the bill for `` as many do-overs as is necessary to get us home , '' as Majority Leader Pedro Espada put it before the vote . `` There 's never a good time for civil rights . There 's never , ever , ever , ever a good time for civil rights . I know . I get that , '' said Sen. Tom Duane , a Manhattan Democrat who was the chamber 's first openly gay member . `` But the paradox is , it 's always the time to be on the right side of history . '' Only one senator spoke against the bill during Wednesday 's debate . Sen. Ruben Diaz argued that the issue should be put to a statewide referendum and pointed out that 31 states have banned same-sex marriages in statewide votes . Diaz , a Democrat and a Pentecostal minister from the Bronx , said many New York religious leaders opposed the bill and called on Republicans to join him in defending `` traditional values . '' `` If we take it to the people , the people oppose it , '' he said . But a Marist College poll released Wednesday found that 51 percent of New Yorkers questioned favored legalizing same-sex marriage , with 42 percent opposed . A June poll by Qunnipiac University poll reported a similar spread of 51 percent to 41 percent . iReport : Signs read ' I un-heart NY ' And Sen. Eric Adams , a Brooklyn Democrat , said that most of the 31 states Diaz cited as voting against same-sex marriage `` at one time or another sold blacks into slavery . '' `` Because the majority is in one place does not mean they 're in the right place , '' he said . `` We 're in the position right now where we have to lead the country to the right place . '' Passage would have made New York the sixth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage and only the second , along with New Hampshire , to do so without a court 's prodding . Connecticut , Vermont , Massachusetts and Iowa also have legalized marriages between gay couples , but federal law bars recognition of those unions across state lines . CNN 's Evan Buxbaum contributed to this story .
`` Let 's get up tomorrow and redouble our efforts , '' governor says . Supporters vow to bring back measure legalizing same-sex marriage . `` The people oppose it , '' Democrat says in arguing against bill . Recent polls found narrow margin of New Yorkers support same-sex marriage .