Criminal clergy? Universalist minister Kay Greenleaf is facing criminal charges for marrying same-sex couples, but that hasn't slowed her down.After New Paltz, N.Y., mayor Jason West Jason West is the former mayor of the village of New Paltz, New York, who performed the first same-sex marriages in New York He lost his re-election bid on May 1, 2007, to Village Trustee Terry Dungan, and his term expired on May 31, 2007. was arrested last March for marrying same-sex couples A same-sex couple is a pair of people of the same gender who pursue a romantic or sexual relationship together. The term "same-sex relationship" may be used when the sexual orientation of participants in a same-sex relationship is not known. two ministers from the Unitarian Universalist Association Unitarian Universalist Association, Protestant church in the United States formed in 1961 by the merger of the American Unitarian Association (see Unitarianism) and the Universalist Church of America. decided to pick up his crusade. Kay Greenleaf an out lesbian minister from nearby Poughkeepsie, and Dawn Sangrey, a straight minister from Mohegan Lake, began marrying same-sex couples in New Paltz about four months ago. And they too were arrested. Greenleaf 64, and Sangrey, 62, are reported to be the first members of the clergy in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. to face criminal charges for marrying gay couples, a fact that has not gone unnoticed. In response to their arrest, dozens of ministers and rabbis List of rabbis. This is a list of prominent rabbis. Rabbis are Judaism's spiritual and religious leaders. See also: List of Jews. Rabbis: Pre-Mishnaic (Tannaim)
The Advocate spoke to Greenleaf in June, shortly after a New York supreme court For the highest appellate court in New York, see . The Supreme Court of the State of New York is New York State's highest trial court, and is of general jurisdiction. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some of the smaller counties share justice permanently barred West from performing same-sex marriages Noun 1. same-sex marriage - two people of the same sex who live together as a family; "the legal status of same-sex marriages has been hotly debated" couple, twosome, duet, duo - a pair who associate with one another; "the engaged couple"; "an inseparable and shortly before another judge dropped all criminal charges against him. A hearing in Greenleaf's case was still pending at press time.--Patrick Letellier How did you get involved in all of this? We heard that Mayor West was going to be solemnizing gay marriages, so my partner, Pat, and I went over to be married, but the walling list was already too long. After Jason was attested at·test v. at·test·ed, at·test·ing, at·tests v.tr. 1. To affirm to be correct, true, or genuine: The date of the painting was attested by the appraiser. 2. , someone who worked with him called and said they were not able to do the weddings. I called my friend Dawn Sangrey, and the next Saturday she drove up to New Paltz, and we did 15 weddings. But there was one condition: The first wedding had to be Pat and me. How are the weddings for gay couples different from those for straight couples? The looks on their faces. It's a glow of surprise, disbelief Disbelief See also Skepticism. Capys Trojan who mistrusted Trojan Horse; cautioned against bringing it into the city. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 50] Cassandra no one gave credence to her accurate prophecies of doom. [Gk. Myth. , and wide-eyed wonder. There's loving joy between the straight couples, but not this sense of awe. I've had gay men sobbing throughout the whole ceremony. When the families come up on the platform to show their support, we all go away with this tremendous glow. Tell me about your arrest. After that first week of marriages, the district attorney asked us to meet with him. He was concerned about whether we had intended the marriages to be civil or if they were just religions ceremonies. We assured him we had every intention for them to be civil and recognized as legal. So we've been charged with solemnizing marriages without a license. Had you ever been arrested? No. Things are pretty quiet in Poughkeepsie [chuckles
Are you prepared to go to jail? Definitely. They could put us in jail for up to a year. I thought it was probably farfetched that they would put a couple of little old lady ministers in jail for marrying people--well, in my case, a little old dyke minister [laughs]. But the closer we get to the courtroom, the less sure I am that it's far-fetched. I have developed a reading list of books to take to jail so I can catch up on my reading while I'm there. I haven't been anxious at all because I know what I'm doing is the right thing. Dawn and I are not heroes. We were simply at the right place at the right time with the right tools. What's next for you? Aside from the possibility of being in jail for a year, I don't see my life changing dramatically. I've got speaking engagements lined up throughout the summer, and invitations are still coming in. But I work on weekends. And we're just going to keep on doing these marriages. |
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