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Town mayor now 'marriage officer'

NEW PALTZ, N.Y., July 26 (UPI) -- The mayor of New Paltz, N.Y., who presided over same-sex marriages 2 1/2 years ago, is now the town's "marriage officer," approving heterosexual unions.

The town board appointed Jason West, 29, to the position to serve couples who "aren't necessarily religion-based," town Supervisor Toni Hokanson told the Kingston (N.Y.) Daily Freeman.

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Hokanson said the appointment of West does not mean the town will start allowing gay weddings.

His position only gives him authority to wed "people who have properly obtained a New York state marriage license," Hokanson said.

New York state law says only heterosexual couples may receive marriage licenses.

In February 2004, West drew international attention when he performed same-sex civil weddings for 25 couples. The service did not qualify as a marriage ceremony because none of the couples was licensed to marry.

West was later barred from presiding over same-sex weddings. He was also brought up on 24 criminal charges that were later dropped.

New York state's highest court, the Court of Appeals, ruled 4-2 this month that state law defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

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