Gay Marriages Go On (New Paltz, NY)

fox23news.com ^ | 03/06/04 | staff

[KQQL]

For Heather Whitefield and Ellen Dietz it's a moment they've been waiting for 11 years.

Heather Whitefield said, “This is a personal thing in many ways but to have the public affirmation is so wonderful.”

The Poughkeepsie couple was scheduled to tie the knot today...with New Paltz Mayor Jason West doing the honors. But even without West -- who is legally prevented from doing so -- the ceremonies went on at a different location.

Rev. Kay Greenleaf said, “I said I'd be happy to pitch in and volunteer to help.” The Reverend Kay Greenleaf, a Unitarian Pastor, and her partner Reverend Dawn Sangrey took west's place and performed 13 same-sex marriage ceremonies on a private piece of land down the road from village hall. The couples were all given notarized affidavits of marriage.

Whitefield said, “It's one step in a long legal process and we understand that. The debate needs to start.”

The hundreds here are hoping these marriages will continue here in New Paltz. But those on the other side say they're breaking the law. And things even got a little heated when this 63 year resident of New Paltz came out to show his outrage.

Ackert said, “They're standing here defying the law and there's nothing being done about it.” Village Trustee Robert Hebel asked the judge for the restraining order against Mayor West - which was granted yesterday. Hebel says just because west isn't performing the ceremonies doesn't make it right.

Robert Hebel said, “You can't discriminate between the mayor and another group. They're still performing the ceremonies without a license and that's what this issue is about.”

Hebel vows to continue his fight. But newlywed’s Dietz and Whitefield say their fight is far from over.

Ellen Dietz said, “Who's to say what's right or wrong. This is what's available; it's not going to be given to us these rights, so we had to take what we could get.”

[KQQL]

@

[al baby]

[KQQL]

lol....

[MississippiMan]

Who's to say what's right or wrong.

God. Because any time man starts deciding on his own, this state of downward-spiraling moral depravity is exactly where it ends up.

MM

[al baby]

[firebrand]

New Paltz used to be such a sweet, quaint little village. Nelson Rockefeller, what have you wrought?

[truthandjustice1]

"Who's to say what's right or wrong."

Uh, the Law?

[truthandjustice1]

"Nelson Rockefeller, what have you wrought" Happy (gay) couples?

[JimVT]

God. Because any time man starts deciding on his own, this state of downward-spiraling moral depravity is exactly where it ends up.

Sorry MS Man...got to disagree....

There is no entity directing human behavior or keeping score on the "good vs the bad" guys.

We are here to learn how to avoid the stupidities of this existence and put our knowledge to better use in the next.

P.S. How's Biloxi as a retirement community?

[firebrand]

This whole town should slide down into the river in the next big rainstorm, lawless mayor, communist college, and all.

[KQQL]

Brief history of gay (same-sex) marriages:
-----------------
1989:
Denmark was the first country to grant civil partnership to gay couples.
--------------------
09/00:
Dutch legalize same-sex marriages as of 09/2000.
01/03:
Belgium begins to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
06/03:
In Canada on 06/10/03 the Ontario Court of Appeals authorized immediate marriage for same-sex couples in the province.
07/03:
Also, in Canada on 07/08/03 the British Columbia Court of Appeals authorized immediate marriage for same-sex couples in the province.
11/03:
MA Supreme Court issues Court Order for MA to allow same-sex marriages as of 05/17/04.
02/04:
SF County (SF CA) begins to issue same-sex marriage licenses as of 02/12/04.
02/04:
NM County issues same-sex marriage licenses for one day (02/20/04).
NM AG rules same-sex marriages are illegal under NM laws.
02/04:
New Paltz,NY Mayor begins to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies as of 02/27/04.
03/03/04: NY AG rules same-sex marriages are illegal under NY laws.
03/05/04: NY Judge bars New Paltz Mayor from performing same-sex marriages for a month.
03/06/04: However, same-sex marriage ceremonies continue in New Paltz, this time under the Unitarian Pastor.
03/04:
Multnomah County (Portland OR) begins to issue same-sex marriage licenses as of 03/03/04.
..............................
Which country/state/county will be next?

[judgeandjury]

Ellen Dietz said, “Who's to say what's right or wrong. This is what's available; it's not going to be given to us these rights, so we had to take what we could get.”

Although I'm opposed to same-gender marriages, I would love to see a group of perhaps 4 men and 3 women walk into the marriage license office in San Francisco and say "We want to get married as a marital group. Whatever argument can be made for allowing a man to marry a man, or a woman to marry a woman, we feel that argument could also be made for allowing a marriage between more than 2 people. The homosexuals want their civil right to marry the person of their choice? Well, we want our civil rights to marry as many people as we desire as part of a marital group".

[KQQL]

what about people who are bi...?

why can't they marry a man and a woman

[MississippiMan]

When things are as they should be, man setting his standards of right and wrong based on God's published standards, one could argue that this is "direction." There is of course free will, though, and He's not gonna force us to follow His rules. We as a society have shoved Him farther and farther out, and the more we do that, the more this society reflects it.

My big picture view is that we're always following either God or Satan. God gives us a good, clear, concise set of instructions; follow Him and you know it. Satan, OTOH, pretends not to exist and sends his minions out to practice their craft as invisibly as possible, whispering their little morsels of wisdom: "Everybody does it." "Who's it gonna hurt?" "She'll never know." "Who's to say what's right?" I believe the evidence is that lots of people are listening to those whisperings these days.

Wish I could help on the Biloxi question; I've naturally been there plenty of times, but I've honestly never been a fan of the area. The beaches on the Gulf Coast have always looked kinda grungy to me, and the water isn't much better. If I wanted to retire around water, I'd choose a different area myself. Others will of course feel differently.

I wouldn't mind setting up housekeeping around a big gorgeous lake, but I don't like the salty humidity of any ocean, if the recent cruise I took is any indicator of what it feels like. I showered four or five times a day; couldn't stand it!

MM

[Avenger]

“This is a personal thing in many ways but to have the public affirmation is so wonderful.”

Think again. You don't have it.

[DemWatch]

"Who's to say what's right or wrong..."

Isn't thinking the law shouldn't restrict your "right" to marry another woman a judgment of right or wrong?

[GeronL]

I guess they aren't any conservative mayors in America.

If there were they could make national news by announcing concealed carry licenses for anyone.

But that won't happen. Because there aren't any conservatives left in this country. We've lost if we cannot even stop people from breaking the law on worldwide TV!!

[JimVT]

I wouldn't mind setting up housekeeping around a big gorgeous lake,

I've got just the right place for you, MM.

Lake Champlain is the nation's 6th largest fresh water lake....13 miles across to NY and about 90 miles north and south.

We even have our own lake monster, Champ.

Course it does freeze over many years!