Charges Dropped Against New Paltz Mayor Jason West

I was very relieved to read that the charges against Jason West have been dropped. This is a great victory in many ways. Jason married gay couples because he felt it was a violation of the state constitution and a violation of his oath of office not to do so. In the end, civil rights won the day.

Now that this is over with, when will the State of New York address the issue of equality?

A prosecutor dropped all charges Tuesday against a small town mayor who could have faced up to a year in jail for marrying gay couples on the steps of the village hall.

New Paltz Mayor Jason West, then 26, was among the first public officials in the nation to marry same-sex couples, following San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in February 2004.

He had been charged with 24 misdemeanor counts of violating the state’s domestic relations law after marrying about two dozen gay couples in ceremonies that drew national attention to the village of about 13,000 residents 75 miles north of New York City.

Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams said Tuesday he dropped the charges because he believed a trial would be unnecessary and divisive.

West called the decision a “complete vindication” and said the district attorney had been “wasting taxpayer money for 18 months.” [...]

West has maintained he was upholding the gay couples’ constitutional rights to equal protection - and thus his oath of office - by allowing them to wed. (source)

Related entries
06/14/2005 - Thoughts On Gay Pride
05/27/2005 - Mayor Jason West will be charged for marrying gay couples
02/02/2005 - Charges against New Paltz Mayor Jason West Reinstated
03/03/2004 - In Defense of Mayor Jason West