New York is very close to become the sixth state (plus the District of Columbia) to legalize same-sex marriage. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) introduced a marriage equality bill on Monday. By yesterday, two Republican and three Democratic state senators signaled they would vote for the measure if it comes to the floor for a vote. That puts the number of potential “aye” votes at 31 — with 32 needed for passage. A vote could come before the end of the legislative session this week. The man of the moment is State Sen. Roy McDonald (R). He put the bill within one vote of passage by delivering a blunt, heartfelt statement to reporters that should give courage to colleagues still sitting on the fence.

“You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn’t black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing,” McDonald, 64, told reporters. “You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f--- it, I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing. “I’m tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I’m trying to do the right thing, and that’s where I’m going with this.”

To that one remaining state Senate Republican — believed to be Sen. Andrew Lanza of Staten Island — listen to McDonald. Do the right thing. You’ll do what the voters sent you to Albany to do: Show leadership. In the process, not only will you make New York a better place, you’ll also be on the right side of history.

[Correction, 3:40 p.m.: The original post noted that five Republican state senators signaled they would vote for marriage equality. It should have read two Republican and three Democratic state senators. The copy now reflects this.]