Almost 20 years ago, the former mayor of New Paltz Jason West made national headlines when he risked criminal prosecution to marry 25 same-sex couples at Peace Park. At this time, same-sex marriages were a fiercely debated topic in America. Only one state, Massachusetts, had legalized same-sex marriage, and the New York City Clerks office was turning LGBTQ+ couples away with letters stating that same-sex marriage was illegal in New York.
Despite this, West, who was only one year into his mayoral term, spotted a loophole in New York marriage law: it did not specify the gender of the two parties getting married. In a decision that would shape national discourse on LGBTQ+ rights, he decided to test the legal waters and announced he would marry LGBTQ+ couples. On Feb. 27, 2004, he married 25 couples in a public ceremony at Peace Park in New Paltz. These same-sex marriages were some of the nation’s first and are a major piece of LGBTQ+ history in New York.
Four days after marrying the couples, West was charged with 19 misdemeanor counts of solemnizing marriages without a license by Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams and had a restraining order filed to prevent him from marrying same-sex couples in the future. West would continue his activism despite the legal action against him — garnering the support of other local politicians who announced that they would recognize the New Paltz marriages. This was one of the first major acts of legal and social resistance to anti-LGBTQ+ marriage law in New York State and helped pave the way for pro-LGBTQ+ legislation such as the Marriage Equality Act, which was signed into law seven years later in 2011.
In honor of West marrying the same-sex couples 20 years ago, the New Paltz Pride Coalition hosted the Love is Love Drag Brunch which took place on Feb. 25 at Novella’s banquet hall. The brunch was an incredible display of LGBTQ+ pride. The decorated hall was filled with rainbow balloons and dazzling decor. There was a photo booth, DJ, bar, balloon-popping raffle and a buffet of pastries — all to entertain the guests before the speeches and drag show began.
As guests settled in, New Paltz Pride Coalition President Eve Papp spoke to the crowd and delivered an emotional speech about the founding of the coalition. She remarked on feeling isolated and alone after coming out and lacking a sense of community when not at major LGBTQ+ celebrations. Papp wanted to create a place of activism, pride and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community that existed year-round.
“Last summer, our first meeting had about 15 people. I was asked ‘what is the New Paltz Pride Coalition?’ I said ‘look around. We are the New Paltz Pride Coalition.’ Now fast forward to today — a few short months later. Our numbers have grown tenfold.” Papp gestured to the sold-out banquet hall and said, “Now, we are the New Paltz Pride Coalition.” The 16 tables full of people cheered.
After Papp, West addressed the crowd about what happened 20 years ago and put those events into a modern context.
“Things are worse now than they were then. We didn’t have the mainstreaming of Christian nationalism that we do now. Roe v. Wade was on sounder footing. Things are worse now. The Republican Party is not what it was 20 years ago. My God, George W. Bush looks good!”
He also commented on the importance of organizing to make change happen. “The fundamental building block of organizing is something we have in this room already and that is each other. It’s moving people from disagreement to agreement, from agreement to action, from action to moving people on their own like a chain reaction,” he said. “We need community. We need each other. The rest we can figure out along the way.”
At the end of his speech, West was joined on stage by Brook Garrett and Jay Blotcher, one of the couples West married 20 years ago. In front of the entire crowd, the couple renewed their vows with West officiating the ceremony — just like he had done all those years prior.
Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger also spoke and urged attendees to get out and vote. She made a passionate plea to the audience. “Jason was able to do what he did because we elected him Mayor!” she said. “It goes without saying that 2024 is a critical year for our democracy, for our values, for who we are and what we want to be as a society. So please, everyone, get out and vote. Organize and fight every single day in the streets but get out to vote!”
After the speeches, a documentary about the marriages at Peace Park played while the attendees ate. The documentary highlighted the actions of West, Blotcher and Garrett on this historic day 20 years ago.
As the documentary wrapped up the drag, performances began. On a dance floor beneath a massive spinning disco ball, drag performers Veela Peculiar, Katarina Mirage and Blair Back put on an incredible show. They each performed multiple songs — lip-syncing, dancing throughout the hall and engaging with the crowd for two sets each. In addition to dancing, Veela Peculiar hosted the show and kept the energy up through drinking games, funny jokes and commentary. By the end of the show, the crowd was begging to get more involved, and the last series of dances had the entire banquet hall — young and old — on the dance floor with the performers. Even the former mayor stood and danced for a moment. As the dancing concluded and the brunch ended, a feeling of celebration accompanied a call to action.
Activists like Papp, the New Paltz Pride Coalition board, former Mayor West and courageous community members like Garrett and Blotcher have helped us progress towards a better, more equitable society. The growth and success of the New Paltz Pride Coalition and the Love is Love Drag Brunch show what is possible when citizens become activists, and activists organize to make a difference in their communities.
However, progress requires constant work and there is still much that needs to be done. Throughout the event, attention was called to the rampant violence against LGBTQ+ youth, and a moment of silence was held in honor of Nex Benedict — an LGBTQ+ youth who died the day after being brutally beaten in an Oklahoma school bathroom. It is up to us to refuse to rest on past successes, call out and fight injustice and hate and shape our communities through activism and voting into the equitable spaces they need to be.
To support the New Paltz Pride Coalition, follow them on social media @newpaltzpridecoalition, attend their events and donate to the organization if you are able.