(Albany, New York) Malcolm Smith has been elected New York State Senate Majority Leader, ending more than a month of intense negotiations with conservatives who threatened to scuttle Democratic control of the state upper house over Smith’s support for same-sex marriage and other gay issues.

In November, Democrats took control of the Senate for the first time in 43 years, winning a slim majority. But three dissident Democrats threatened to vote with Republicans over Smith’s gay marriage position.

The trio demanded that Smith agree not to support a same-sex marriage bill to gain their support. Without that support, Democrats would not have a Senate majority.

The negotiations ended this week with the three voting to support Smith. He became Majority Leader on Wednesday. Sources close to the negotiations said that Smith made no concessions.

“For the first time ever, New York has a pro-LGBT Majority Leadership in the State Senate,” said Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle.

“[We] look forward to working with him to pass legislation that will bring equality to LGBT New Yorkers and our families.

Van Capelle said that he is hopeful that marriage equality, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act and the Dignity for All Students Act will be passed, but the votes are still not there.

“In the months to come, LGBT New Yorkers and our allies will be working in districts across the state to build the support that will allow us to bring these bills to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as possible,” he said.

In 2006, the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, ruled that same-sex couples do not have a constitutional right to marry. It said that the issue, however, could be taken up by the legislature.

Legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry in New York State passed the Assembly in 2007, but the Senate, then controlled by the GOP, refused to take up the bill.

Gov. David Paterson (D) has said if a marriage equality bill came to his desk he would sign it. Paterson  issued a directive in June instructing state agencies governing insurance and health care – to immediately change policies and regulations to recognize gay marriages performed in areas where they are legal.

A Quinnipiac poll last year showed New Yorkers are split over gay marriage, with 42 percent saying same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, 31 percent saying they should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry, and 21 percent saying there should be no legal recognition of same-sex unions.