Poughkeepsie Journal

Sunday, June 20, 2004
19 gay couples marry
By Michael Valkys
Poughkeepsie Journal

NEW PALTZ -- With a legal injunction looming, a New Paltz village official and three ministers Saturday conducted 19 same-sex marriages, bringing the total to 171 since the movement began in February.

Village Trustee Robert Hebel has said he is preparing to file legal papers to stop the ceremonies and void those which already happened. But that might not happen until later this week, so Saturday's ceremonies went off without problems.

About 100 people, friends and family of the couples, gathered at the Lefevre House Bed & Breakfast on Southside Avenue for the multiple ceremonies performed by village Trustee Julia Walsh and three ministers.

''It is my joy to witness this marriage,'' Walsh told one couple as they exchanged vows under a tent outside the bed-and-breakfast.

Doreen Dunn and B'Rak Asher of Ulster Park have been together three years and exchanged vows Saturday.

''We've always wanted to take the plunge,'' Dunn said of getting married to her partner. ''It's having the opportunity to take the plunge.''

The couple has been on a waiting list established in February, when Mayor Jason West began marrying same sex couples. The Ulster Park couple learned Wednesday they would be married Saturday, which gave them little time to prepare.

''It's kind of sad,'' Dunn said. ''We should have time to plan.''

The New Paltz Equality Initiative, the grassroots group organizing the nuptials, announced Friday Walsh and the ministers -- two Unitarians and one Presbyterian -- would conduct the marriages.

Same-sex marriages began Feb. 27 when West officiated at 24 ceremonies outside village hall. Hebel and his attorneys then successfully petitioned for a court injunction barring West from conducting further ceremonies.

The village board voted 3-2 Wednesday night to appoint Walsh as a marriage officer. Deputy Mayor Rebecca Rotzler was named a marriage officer last month.

Marriage documents certified by Rotzler and Walsh are not being filed in village hall, officials have said. Notarized copies were given to the couples, and others without signatures are on a computer at the bed-and-breakfast, the headquarters of the initiative.

Sherrelle Wolfe and Michelle Wood of Port Ewen also exchanged vows Saturday.

''We're bonded together for life now,'' Wolfe said, wearing a white wedding dress. Her partner wore a dark suit. ''Whether it's legal or not, in my heart, it's legal.''

June 10, town Judge Jonathan Katz threw out the misdemeanor charges against West, filed by Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams. Williams is appealing.

The same charges -- solemnizing marriages without a license -- are still pending for Unitarian Universalist ministers Kay Greenleaf of Poughkeepsie and Dawn Sangrey of Bedford Hills, Westchester County.

Oral arguments in their case are scheduled for Friday.

Michael Valkys can be reached at mvalkys@poughkeepsiejournal.com.