Poughkeepsie Journal

Sunday, April 25, 2004
At least 10 gay couples take vows in New Paltz

NEW PALTZ -- At least another 10 same-sex couple married Saturday at Lefevre House Bed and Breakfast off Southside Avenue.

Two Unitarian Universalist ministers and one interfaith minister performed the ceremonies, the Rev. Kay Greenleaf said. The exact number of couples was not available.

To date, more than 100 weddings between same-sex couple have been performed, said New Paltz Mayor Jason West, the first to preside over such a ceremony in February.

Six people protested during the ceremony. They stood on a street corner and distributed religious information during the ceremony, protester Diane Garrison said.

The group, which calls itself the Truthful Witness Campaign, grew out of the Christian Coalition.

The group is not an anti-gay campaign, Garrison said. Its message, she said, is homosexuality is an unhealthy and unnatural lifestyle and Jesus Christ can set anyone free from any sin.