The Log Cabin Republicans of New York, the state's GOP gay rights group, announced today a member of the the Assembly minority - Fred Thiele - has decided to cosponsor the same-sex marriage bill.

This brings to the number of GOP Assembly members willing to vote "yes" on the bill up to five. In 2007, four Republicans - Mike Spano (who has since become a Democrat), Joel Miller, Teresa Sayward and Dede Scozzafava - joined 81 Democrats to pass the same-sex marriage bill in that house for the first time in New York history.

(NOTE: Republican Assemblywoman Janet Duprey did not vote "yes" in 2007, but has since changed her position on the issue and is now in favor of marriage).