Mayor charged over gay marriages

THE mayor of a small town in the US was due in court yesterday charged with 19 criminal counts for performing gay marriage ceremonies.

Jason West, the mayor of New Paltz in New York state was charged with solemnising marriages for couples who had no licenses, a minor crime under the domestic relations law, according to Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams.

Although West could face a maximum penalty of a year in jail, the prosecutor said a prison sentence was not being considered at this point.

The 26-year-old Green Party mayor has said he will plead not guilty at his court hearing and that he still plans to marry up to two dozen gay couples on Saturday.

“I’m incredibly disappointed,” West said. “Apparently it’s a crime to uphold the constitution of New York state.”

West performed wedding ceremonies for 25 gay couples on Friday, making him the second mayor in the country to perform same-sex marriages.

It also made the small village 75 miles north of New York City another flash point in the national debate.

More than 3,400 couples have been married in San Francisco, and West has about 1,000 couples on a waiting list.

Mr Williams said he still did not know whether West performed the marriages of his own accord or after getting bad legal advice.

“If he’s doing it sincerely out of a moral conviction and out of some naive misunderstanding of the law, then that would enter into the equation,” the prosecutor said.

He said the complaint lists 19 charges, but more are possible.

With West vowing to go through with more gay weddings, opponents had hoped Mr Williams would act to stop him. But he said he did not have the legal power to do so.

West said the prospect of further punishment does not deter him, adding that the newlywed couples inspire him.

“Just the looks on their faces, just the absolute joy of finally being able to be equal,” he said. “That is the highest moral calling I could possibly imagine.”