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Today in Gay History: Mayor Jason West Illegally Married 24 Same-Sex Couples
Although the marriages were not recognized, the New Paltz mayor married same-sex couples in front of hundreds
This week, the war for LGBT rights wages on in Arizona and Texas and legal cases involving marriage equality are ongoing in several other states. But 10 years ago today, a small-town mayor in New York grabbed national attention by marrying 24 same-sex couples within a few hours.
Mayor Jason West of New Paltz, New York, stood outside of Village Hall, marrying couples between noon and 2 p.m. on February 27, 2004. At the time, the state did not wed same-sex couples, but West's community met his feat with resounding support.
Hundreds surrounded the mayor and cheered for each and every nuptial. Allowing members of the community shifted opinions, according to West, who told New York magazine, "Seeing their own neighbors get married moved people from ambivalence to 'How could I deny that happiness to my neighbors?'"
A retired war-vet, Jeffrey McGowan, and his significant other, Billiam van Roestenberg, were among the first married by West. At the time, van Roestenberg told CNN, "It's just a celebration of love toward one another and to show our family and friends that we're proud and look forward to spending the rest of our lives together."
http://www.out.com/entertainment/today-gay-history/2014/02/27/new-york-mayor-jason-west-illegally-married-same-sex-couples
7 replies
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I went to school there. 
The damn keeps breaking but they just can't seem to stop the cracks. This is one time, I can't wait for the flood!
West at a gay rally in 2005
snip
On February 27, 2004, West drew national attention to New Paltz when he announced that he would be performing same-sex marriages. On the first day he performed 24 such ceremonies. On March 2, he was charged with 19 misdemeanor counts of "solemnizing marriages without a license" by Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams.According to Williams, West was not charged for all 25 ceremonies because police only witnessed 19 of them.
West originally announced that he intended to continue performing same-sex weddings; however, on March 5, New York state judge Vincent Bradley issued a temporary restraining order barring West from performing any such ceremonies for a month. West indicated that he would abide by the judicial order while evaluating his legal options. On June 6, Ulster County Supreme Court Judge Michael Kavanagh made the injunction permanent. West later remarked, "Give it 10 or 20 years when we're holding state legislatures and Congress. It will just be a nonissue."
On June 10, New Paltz Town Court Justice Jonathan Katz dismissed the charges against Mayor West, ruling that the district attorney had failed to show that the state had a legitimate interest in preventing the marriages, or that the law under which West was charged was constitutional. The district attorney said that he would appeal the ruling.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_West
