Tuesday is 20 years to the day that 25 same-sex weddings took place in the city of New Paltz. At the time, the ceremonies were illegal in New York, but they ended up playing a role in the eventual passage of marriage equality.

Spectrum News 1 looked back at the historic ceremony with then-Mayor Jason West, who officiated the ceremonies, and one of the couples involved.

It was a moment 20 years in the making. Brook Garrett and Jay Blotcher renewed their vows two decades after being wed illegally by West.

“Strangers came to this open-air wedding, public wedding in New Paltz, and cheered us on," Blotcher said. "They never met us before. They didn't know us, but they stood with us to celebrate.”

The New Paltz community celebrated the historic anniversary with a pride brunch, honoring the bravery of West and the clergy that officiated the marriages, all while enjoying food and drag performances.

The celebration also served as a fundraiser for the New Paltz Pride Coalition. West's only regret from 2004 was that he didn’t break the restraining order that prevented him from doing more marriages.

“I wish I'd gone to jail," he said. "I wish I'd spent 30 days in county (prison), or whatever. It would have been to make that point, because that's what it's going to take.”

The joyous celebration couldn’t hide reality. West thinks civil rights, especially for the LGBTQ+ community, has slid backwards.

“There's just the perpetual struggle," he said. "Social change and maintaining things like civil rights and democracy are day in and day out activity, not just something you do once and then rest on your laurels.”

Garrett agrees. Even after 20 years since the weddings, he said the fight for equality must continue on.

“Keep fighting to keep your seat at the table," Garrett said. "We have to...look out for those who don't maybe have the strength that you have, to pull them along and give them the support that they need.”