LG Robert Duffy spent a large portion of his speech at the Empire State Pride Agenda’s Equality and Justice rally reiterating Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s support for gay marriage.

Cuomo is not slated to speak at the rally.

In roughly 10 minute address, Duffy reminded the crowd that Cuomo is beginning a statewide tour drumming up support for gay marriage, along with a legislative ethics bill and a property tax cap.

The governor is also backing a coalition of advocacy groups called New Yorkers United for Marriage in an effort to push the issue.

“No one should ever question Gov. Cuomo’s position on marriage equality,” Duffy told the crowd at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. “He has made it one of his top legislative priorities this year.”

“This is a basic issue of human rights,” he added.

Duffy did not stick around to speak with members of the media after his speech. UPDATE: The LG later told Susan Arbetter on the Capitol Pressroom that the governor is a “tremendous supporter of marriage equality…nobody should read into anything on this; this is one of his top priorities.”

Cuomo is deputizing his entire team, Duffy said, to carry his agenda and message across the state as part of the People First tour.

Cuomo has had a difficult relationship with the gay and lesbian community, but having a gay marriage bill pass this year would be crucial for him as he seeks to shore up support in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Ross Levi said he didn’t feel snubbed that Cuomo wasn’t in attendance.

“I don’t think the governor has to reinforce his priorities… He has made that very clear,” Levi said.

Advocates for gay marriage will hold a rally in the west Capitol Park this afternoon and then speak with individual members of the Legislature. Cuomo has said he wants a gay marriage legalization bill once lawmakers wrap up their work in June.

A same-sex marriage legalization bill failed in the then-Democratic-controlled Senate in 2009, 38-24. However, several senators who voted no at the time are no longer in office and some have said they may switch.

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