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| New Paltz, N.Y. Mayor Jason West officiates at the wedding of one of the 25 couples he married Feb. 27. |
| Photo Credit: Phyllis Bobb / New Paltz Equality Initiative |
Greens out front as new movement builds
By Eric Prindle, Green Party of New York State
When Greens celebrated the election of Jason West as mayor at the head of a Green-majority Board of Trustees in the small New York village of New Paltz, they probably had no idea that within a year, he would be at the center of an international debate over a major social issue.
But when the issue of same-sex marriage began to heat up this winter, West decided to put his party's positions into practice. On Feb. 27, he became the first public official on the East Coast to conduct marriages between same-sex partners, thrusting him into the spotlight.
Until charges were dismissed June 10, West, 26, faced 24 misdemeanor counts for marrying unlicensed couples. The district attorney plans to appeal.
"New York's Constitution requires equal protection under the law for all our people," West said. "New York law defines marriage as a contract between parties, not as a union of one man and one woman. Our laws allow same sex marriage and our Constitution requires it. I took an oath of office to uphold that Constitution and I will continue to do so."
West's easy way with television cameras, his youth and his party affiliation added up to a good deal of media interest, and during the heart of the controversy over municipal officials interpreting state laws to allow same-sex marriage, he was one of the most frequent spokespeople of the movement in the press, even appearing Mar. 16 on NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."
For now, however, West is not performing any more marriages due to a restraining order forbidding him from doing so while the legal issues are explored. "Thankfully, I'm not needed to perform more marriages as over 30 local clergy have volunteered to take my place," he said.
And though not performing marriages, West has participated in several events touting marriage equality, including the GLBTIQ-inclusive Queens (New York City) St. Patrick's Day Parade and a Green Party "Meet, Mix and Empower" fundraiser in Washington, D.C.
Greens Around Country, World Weigh In
In 2000, when San Francisco supervisor candidate Matt Gonzalez switched parties from Democratic to Green, among the reasons he gave in a public statement was that he could not vote for candidates who "oppose gay marriage," as many Democrats do.
Gonzalez was victorious in that election, and last year, he nearly defeated his more moderate fellow supervisor, Gavin Newsom, for the office of mayor. His come-from-behind campaign was cited by many as a warning to the citys establishment that they must adopt more progressive positions.
So it should come as no surprise that Gonzalez was pleased when Newsom became the first mayor in the country to start marrying same-sex couples.
"I think that whats happening right now, I think a lot of folks are viewing it as kind of a, you know, municipal anarchy," Gonzalez told the Fox News Channel in March. "I've heard the phrase used. But I think you have to keep in mind that laws evolve and change in part because they're challenged."
"I feel incredibly optimistic that we're on the verge of toppling what has been a very discriminatory attitude and law in this country," Gonzalez said, "and yet on the other hand maybe [the controversy] is something that will be around many years from now. I certainly hope not."
Internationally, West is not the only Green mayor to venture into controversial territory by performing same-sex marriages. Nol Mamre, a former presidential candidate for The Greens in France and mayor of the small town of Begles, married two men June 5 in the country's first such marriage, unleashing a national debate.
French law allows civil unions for same-sex couples, but Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said marriages are limited to a man and a woman, and his government has begun disciplinary proceedings against Mamre that could result in suspension and a fine, as well as proceedings to annul the marriage.
In the meantime, Mamre and other Greens have introduced a bill into Parliament that would give full legal recognition to same-sex marriages.
Party Sees an Important Role
Greens perceive themselves as having an important part to play in the resolution of the marriage controversy, since neither the Democratic nor Republican Party has a consistent position on the issue.
"As the only political party to solidly and openly support marriage equality, Greens around the country are working with civil rights groups and gay and lesbian organizations to form coalitions to push for full marriage equality," West said. "I've met Greens all across the country who are doing the daily work to make marriage equality a reality in America."
"The Green Party of the United States, in its platform, unequivocally supports the full right of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals to marry," said Brandon Lacy Campos, chair of the National Lavender Green Caucus.
"We are a party that opposes the separate but equal mentality espoused by the Democratic Party that would provide some of the benefits of marriage under laws establishing domestic partnerships and civil unions.
"Our right to love who we will and have that love recognized by the state with the same rights and responsibilities as our heterosexual brothes and sisters is not to be compromised, abridged, or denied."
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