ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A new poll shows support among New Yorkers for legalizing gay marriage is growing after years of hovering just over the 50-percent level.

Advocates are using the results in their effort to bring the issue to a vote in the state Legislature as early as this spring.

The Quinnipiac University poll found 56 percent of New Yorkers support legalizing gay marriage in New York.

That's up from recent polls and from 2004, when 55 percent opposed legalization.

The Republican-led Senate could take the issue up this year. The measure has strong support in the Democrat-led Assembly and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo supports gay marriage.

Quinnipiac questioned 1,436 registered voters Jan. 18-31. The poll released Feb. 3 has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 points.