Gay-marriage decision celebrated

By RANDI WEINER
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: February 15, 2005)

NYACK — The legal niceties of a court decision wouldn't seem particularly sentimental, but for nearly two dozen people at Nyack Village Hall last night, it had the ring of romance.

Some 22 people, all supporters of same-sex marriage, held a St. Valentine's Day read-in of three passages from the Feb. 4 New York City court decision that granted that right to city residents.

For gay and lesbian couples, the decision was "elegant, brilliant," said Claudette Charbonneau of Nanuet, who went to New York City to celebrate the court decision and decided to extend the celebration to Rockland. The judge compared same-sex marriage barriers to those between people of different races, arguing that adults have a right to choose whom they will marry and that the government has no say in that choice.

The case rules on New York City couples only and has no effect on local rules banning same-sex marriage or other court cases.

Charbonneau called Jerry Goodman of Congers, president of the Stonewall Democratic Club and of Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbian and Gays, to tell him about the celebration and suggest that St. Valentine's Day would be a good day to celebrate, "and it just took off from there," Goodman said.

The program began with speeches by Goodman, Charbonneau and Nyack Mayor John Shields, who with his partner was among "the Nyack 10," a group that unsuccessfully sought to receive marriage licenses from the Orangetown town clerk. They sued the clerk to issue them licenses and the state Health Department to recognize the licenses last year.

Shields, who acknowledged the decision had no effect on his situation, applauded the decision and reminded the audience members that they needed to remain activists for same-sex marriage and other rights for gay and lesbian couples.

About a half-dozen audience members took turns reading from the decision. Goodman had hoped a minister would be available to allow couples to hold commitment ceremonies, but it didn't happen. Instead, those attending held hands in a circle and sang "We Shall Overcome."

Billiam van Roestenberg and retired Army Maj. Jeffrey McGowan were the first couple married in New Paltz, on Feb. 22, 2004. Van Roestenberg told those attending, "It's a good day, a good time. Let's move forward and celebrate. We all have to fight for our rights."

Katie Willingham, 16, a sophomore at Nyack High School and a member of the school's Gay Straight Alliance, came to show support; she was accompanied by her mother, Susanna Willingham, a psychotherapist who works with gay, lesbian and transgender people.

James Hyer, 27, of Suffern, president of the Rockland County Young Democrats and committee member of Stonewall Democrats, said that same-sex marriage should just be the beginning of activism.

"Gay marriage is an important issue, but it's not the only issue," he said.

The county now allows benefits for partners in same-sex relationships, Hyer said, and other governments, including villages and towns, as well as schools and libraries, should follow suit.

To read the decision, visit www.lambdalegal.org.

Reach Randi Weiner at rweiner@thejournalnews.com or 845-578-2468.Reach Randi Weiner at rweiner@thejournalnews.com or 845-578-2468.