To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

When gay marriage came to the senate floor last year, all 30 Republicans voted no. Now, the number of senate Republicans has swelled to a majority: bad news for gay rights advocates. Or is it?

"We are sitting here today stronger, in stronger position, after the election than we were before," said Ross Levi of the Empire State Pride Agenda.

It comes down to numbers. Come January, there will be 14 new faces in the State Senate compared to a year ago, and advocates say they now have two more "yes" votes than before. That's because even though three pro-gay marriage Democrats were ousted by Republicans, five "no" votes will flip to "yes" votes, including Queens Republican Frank Padavan and Buffalo Democrat William Stachowski. Gay rights advocates campaigned against both.

"That I believe sends a very strong message to everybody in Albany, where they have to be thinking about whether they want the strength of the LGBT community turning to them in a negative way," Levi said.

Then there’s Queens Democrat George Onorato, a "no" vote who’s retiring. Democrat Michael Gianaris, a "yes" vote, won his seat but acknowledges the yays may still come up short.

"I think the net is a positive. We’re moving in the right direction. But it hasn’t been enough to make up the eight votes that we needed yet," Gianaris said.

Advocates believe others can be swayed, and incoming Majority Leader Dean Skelos has indicated he will allow the issue to the floor again for a vote.

Gay rights became a lightning rod issue during the race for governor thanks to the controversial remarks made by Republican Carl Paladino, who said children shouldn't be brainwashed into thinking homosexuality is an equally valid option.

That helped sink Paladino's candidacy, proving -- advocates say -- that being anti-gay rights is bad politics.

"Carl Paladino has made that explicit. It is now perfectly clear that you cannot be successful running for statewide office and being seen as anti-LGBT," Levi said.

Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo and the State Assembly are already behind gay marriage, which means it's the senate where this battle could be waged for years to come.