On an official trip to Long Island Tuesday, Gov. David Paterson said he?ll introduce legislation to legalize gay marriage this week.

Paterson was in Hempstead announcing a foreclosure plan and briefly commented on the same-sex marriage bill. If approved, New York would be the fifth state in the nation to legalize marriage for gays and lesbians.

?The timing was always right,? Paterson said. ?It?s just who is willing to take that step?and I am.?

The bill will face much opposition though. The same legislation was introduced in 2007 and made it through the Assembly, but stalled in the Senate. State Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) told News 12 Long Island he opposes gay marriage and says the rest of the Republican minority is also against it.

The governor says it?s time that gays have the same rights and benefits as heterosexuals. He is expected to formally introduce the bill on Thursday. It could take months for the bill to make it through the legislative committees and onto the floor.