Former State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, who was against same-sex marriage when he ran the Senate, says he has changed his mind on the issue.

In a statement released today, the Republican says that he now sees the issue as a civil right.

"This is America and we have inalienable rights," said Bruno in a statement. "Life is short and we should all be afforded the same opportunities and rights to enjoy it."

This comes only two years after he blocked an earlier version of a gay marriage bill that the Democrat-led Assembly passed. Bruno says he opposed the bill because most of his Republican colleagues were against it.

The 80-year-old retired last year. He had served as state majority leader since 1995.