Legally and socially, we have reached an important milestone for the LGBTQ+ community. In a little less than two decades, Montclair has evolved to become a place where people of different sexual orientations and identities can openly pursue happiness. From domestic civil unions to hanging a Pride flag, the visibility of the community has finally been painted on the portrait for the world to see.
A series of firsts help illustrate how society has changed. These articles below capture some highlights:
2004: “Domestic Partnership Act arrives quietly in Montclair”
When the Domestic Partnership Act arrived “quietly” in Montclair a week earlier, several Montclair couples ventured to a neighboring town where, according to the Montclair Times, “amid much fanfare Maplewood granted 250 couples, including some from Montclair, domestic partnership status on the steps of its Town Hall.”
Said Bill Courson to the newspaper, “I don’t understand how a political unit the size of a town like Montclair, with the size of its gay community, can overlook something like this. It’s a very important day.”
Elizabeth Schroeder and Maria Towe were among the Montclair residents granted Domestic Partner status on July 15 in Maplewood. Surprised at the Township’s underwhelming response to the new law, [person who stated statement] says “I just want to make sure for this Township Council coming in that this is an important issue in this town.”
The beginning of the domestic partnership in Montclair in 2004 was the first drops of water before the rain. Only a few people notice the light drizzle–and these people are noticing because they have gone the longest without rain. About three years later, domestic partnerships took on more than just a legal aspect but also a celebrative one too, marking one of the first recorded festivities in honor of a union.
2007: Forming a more perfect union
Gina Pastino and Naomi Cohen had the distinction of being the first couple in Montclair to celebrate a civil union ceremony at Bnai Keshet Synagogue on February 23, 2007 at noon.
In October, New Jersey became the third state in the union to establish a civil union law, giving same-sex couples the same legal benefits and obligations of marriage – without using the “M-word.”
While the ceremony ended in a celebration, Pastino remarked, “I think if you say to somebody, ‘Do you know what it means to be married?’, they’ll say yes.’ But if I asked that same person, ‘Do you know what it means to be civil unioned?’, they’re really not going to know. That’s one of the reasons we want it to be called marriage, and hopefully in the next two years, we’ll all be back here again. And that’ll be the end of that.”
With the realization that many people in the LGBTQ+ community wanted to be recognized and not just receive the legal privileges of the law, groups like the Montclair State University came together in an effort to create a window that everyone can look through–an effort to create acceptance regardless of a person’s identity.
2010: MSU’S new living community
In 2010, Montclair State University established a community dedicated to providing students safe and comfortable housing without consideration of gender identity, expression or orientation. Today, Stonewall Suites is the University’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and allied (LGBTQA) living community.
The coming together of society eventually led to the legalization of same-sex marriage–a feat that generations of people had been waiting to see for a long time. In less than a decade, a lot of people’s awareness of the falling rain grew.
2013: I now pronounce you
The clock struck midnight, ushering in October 21, 2013, a monumental new day in New Jersey history. At a candlelit service at the First Congregational Church, Peter Wert and Tom Rose became the first gay couple to be married in Montclair, surrounded by loved ones and their then 11-year old twins.
When the Supreme Court upheld a decision on October 18 to allow civil marriages for same-sex couples, Wert and Rose sprang into action, aided by others who were equally excited to be part of history. Montclair Township employees opened the doors of the Municipal Building on Sunday so they could get a marriage license. At the Essex County Courthouse, a judge waived the 72-hour waiting period required after an application is filed. When the First Congregational Church’s Reverend Ann Ralosky agreed to marry them at midnight, all the pieces were in place for a wedding.
As The Patch reported, “In the meantime, tuxedos were pulled down from the attic and guests were invited via email. Some friends brought champagne and wine, another made bouquets and the minister's daughter purchased a cake. An acoustic version of Cyndi Lauper's ‘True Colors’ was chosen for the ceremony.”
Though it may appear to have been spur-of-the-moment, the wedding was 22 years in the making. As Wert said at the time, “We need to be part of the statement that really shows how important this is and to do it immediately when the law comes into effect…Somebody has to put a face to it, and especially in a community like Montclair that is so diverse. … It was a magical moment."
The legalization of same-sex marriage was the door needed to open many trails. In modern day, marriage is seen socially as more than just a contract but as an acknowledgment of sentiment and humanity. That acknowledgement is what allows a person to reach for stars that were once galaxies away.
2020: First openly-gay councilperson elected
As stated by The Montclair Times, “Peter Yacobellis, a former aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and prominent LGBTQ activist, is sworn in at the Montclair Township Council reorganization meeting Tuesday, July 1. He is first openly-gay person to serve on the Township Council, a historic feat to witness.”
A democratic government consists of a group of elected officials that represent the wants, needs, and ideals of the people who have voted for them. As an elected official that openly owns his identity, Yacobellis represents one of the many groups in Montclair.
2021: A Symbol of Safety, Welcome, and Pride
On June 4, 2021, in a ceremony outside 205 Claremont Avenue, Montclair raised the Progress Pride flag for the first time. Members of the community were joined by local officials, members of the Board of Education, Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill, and Terrel Paige from N.J. Senator Nia Gill’s office. As Councilman Peter Yacobellis said, “This is a big deal.”
The Progress Pride flag, designed in 2018 by Daniel Quasar, adds a five-color chevron to the classic rainbow Pride Flag. The chevron consists of black and brown stripes to represent marginalized LGBTQ+ communities of color, as well as pink, light blue, white to represent transgender and non-binary people.
At the ceremony, Yacobellis recalled how in the 1970s, Gilbert Baker and 30 other people cut, sewed, and hand-stitched the first rainbow flag in San Francisco. The flag has always been a symbol of safety, a symbol of welcome, and a symbol of pride.
While the flag-raising was a visible sign, within the week Montclair had also passed a series of reforms addressing LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion. Commissioner Brendan Gill noted, “Montclair has had a tradition of inclusion for quite some time, but even with that tradition, we still have a lot of work to do. I can’t tell you how proud I was to see this governing body pass a series of reforms to make sure our LGBT community is not only protected, but included. We are trying to follow your lead at the county level.”
Before the skies opened up and the rain fell, Mayor Sean Spiller wrapped up the ebullient mood at the ceremony. “This is a sign of who we are. That is why I am so proud to be part of Montclair.”
Flags serve as symbolic reminders of the virtues people hold closely. Holding a ceremony to raise the Pride flag is a symbol for how far the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community has come in Montclair: from a time when legally, same-sex couples couldn’t say they were married to holding a ceremony to raise a flag that stands for more than just same-sex couples. The flag represents all who identify with different genders and sexualities. As stated by Commissioner Gill, “...we still have work to do…” and the timeline of the changes thus far is proof that work can be and will continue to be done.
Sources:
Montclair Local. June 4, 2021. Available at: https://montclairlocal.news/montclair-raises-the- progressive-pride-flag-for-the-first-time-photos/
Montclair Patch. October 21, 2013. Available at: https://patch.com/new-jersey/montclair/ 5ff5ddc6-05fe-41c8-955a-071e39cadd72.
Montclair Times. July 15, 2004. Available at: httsp://www.newspapers.com/image/499523039
Montclair Times, March 1, 2007. Available at: https://www.newspapers.com/image/499632353