Kids & Family

Mayor Performs First Same-Sex Marriage in West Orange

"We really wanted to get married today, the first day same-sex marriage became legal, because it is so symbolic," Gerard A. Racioppi said.

Mayor Robert Parisi performed one of the first same-sex marriages for two West Orange residents Monday afternoon in Town Hall. 

Randall E. Johnson and Gerard A. Racioppi applied for a waiver Monday morning to the state's 72-hour waiting period for a marriage license at the Essex County Court House.

"It only took about an hour," Johnson said. "The staff, bailiff, and judge were all very helpful and nice. It was a great experience."

The couple told Patch, Monday was their fourth time committing to each other. On July 10, 2004  the first day New Jersey offered Domestic Partnership the two entered in a Domestic Partnered followed by a church service in October, 2004 at Church of the Redeemer in Morristown and in March 2007 entered into a Civil Union just after the state offered the union.

"We really wanted to get married today, the first day same-sex marriage became legal, because it is so symbolic,” Racioppi said.

“It was an honor to perform their ceremony,” Parisi said. “There is no bigger moment in a person’s life then the day they get married. It is always a pleasure to be a part of that.”

Find out what's happening in West Orangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Johnson, originally from Saddle Brook, works for the Episcopal Diocese of Newark and Racioppi, of Verona, is a seminarian at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Montclair.

In West Orange, five couples filed their applications early Saturday morning after the health department opened to take applications for same-sex marriages as a result of Friday’s State Supreme Court ruling upholding a trail judge’s decision to allow civil marriages for same-sex couples to start on Oct. 21.

Under New Jersey law, all people wishing to be married must file a marriage license application at least 72 hours in advance of the ceremony. Any couples who filed the appropriate state-required paperwork on Saturday will be able to be legally married Tuesday.

Find out what's happening in West Orangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Gov. Chris Christie dropped his appeal of the court ruling Monday to allow gay marriage allowing New Jersey to become the 14th U.S. state where same-sex marriage is legal.

Applications can be completed at Town Hall (room 203), located at 66 Main Street. One of the applicants must be a West Orange resident. The fee is $28 cash or check. Call 973-325-4121 for more information.


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