New York ? New York Gov. David Paterson plans to introduce legislation this week to legalize same-sex marriage, reviving a bill that died in 2007 and still faces strong opposition despite a new Democratic majority in the state Senate.

Paterson, talking to reporters Tuesday in Hempstead, N.Y, said “there is clearly a problem” when gays and lesbians in civil unions are denied 1,200 to 1,350 civil protections such as health care and pension rights because they’re not married.

In radio interviews last week Paterson said he believes it will eventually become law. But polls show legalizing gay marriage remains controversial in New York. And some gay marriage advocates are worried that bringing the issue up in New York before there’s clear support to pass it could set back efforts to legalize it there, as well as in other states.