Pizza Get-Together in West Haven CT 9/4/2025
Networking in West Haven, Connecticut
An in-person Officiant Networking event is on Thursday, September 4th, 2025. We’re meeting at 5:30 PM at Lorenzo’s in West Haven, Connecticut. Beyond the amazing people who will be attending, we’ll have pizza, salad, appetizers, coffee, tea and soda. Cash bar.
Tickets
- Early registration before 9/1/2025, $25 JPus members, $30 guests.
- After September 1st, $30 JPus members, $35 guests
- Extra $5 at the door
This in-person get-together is brought to you by popular demand. We’ll have fun, great food and even better company. Questions? Call 203-255-7703 or email [email protected].
Same-Sex Wedding Trends
In the early spring of 2025, the Justice of the Peace Association launched a survey to quantify what some members reported: many same-sex couples rushed to marry after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Following are the findings of our survey.
Increase in Same-Sex Weddings
- 31% of officiants reported an increase in the number of inquiries or bookings for LGBTQ+ weddings
- 61% reported no noticeable change in the number of weddings
- 56% of respondents said that same-sex couples reported the political or social climate influenced their decision to marry.
- Since the election, only 14% of officiants changed the way they officiate or promote same-sex weddings
It makes sense that all marriage officiants didn’t observe this trend. One of the wonderful things about findaJP.com is the ability for couples to search different officiants, read their profiles, see testimonials and photos, and determine who is the perfect person to lead their ceremony. So naturally there are some officiants who are more sympatico with gay and lesbian couples, and they will get more of those contacts. Likewise, some couples are more apt to establish an affinity with their officiant, and consequently may share their anxieties. Other officiants do a quick, down-and-dirty ceremony and may not create an opportunity to build a trusting connection. Therefore, they are less likely to hear about couples’ worries.
About the Survey-Takers
- Understandably, 80% of the officiants who took the survey are JPs or notaries public (in Maine, Florida or South Carolina) since JPus is an organization for civil officiants. In addition, 42% are ordained on-line to perform marriages and 4% are religious officiants with a congregation. Note: Survey respondents were permitted to check more than one category, so the total is greater than 100%.
- The respondents are an experienced bunch! Most (78%) of the officiants have been performing marriage ceremonies for more than 10 years. Another 17% for six – 10 years. Only five percent have been doing weddings for one to five years, and none for less than one year.
- Almost all (86%) of the officiants are from the northeast. The remaining 14% are from the midwest and east coast.
Related Links
- Using inclusive terminology in your ceremony
- JPus is an ally and advocate to protect marriage equality
- See the details of how JPus sought to change Connecticut’s terminology on its marriage licenses.
- Make sure your JP Profile lets couples know that LBGTQ couples are welcome
Same-Sex Marriage Trends Survey
The Christian Science Monitor is preparing an article about trends in same-sex marriages since the 2024 election, and they’re seeking the officiant perspective. The Justice of the Peace Association created a brief survey to gather your observations on any changes you’ve noticed in wedding trends over the past several months.
Your responses will help provide valuable insight for this important story. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
CT JPs testify to Support Legislation
Connecticut JPs Walk the Walk
Not content to sit on the sidelines, Connecticut JPs took action to address problems related to JP appointments and the quality and oversight of officiants in the state (HB7150, An Act Concerning Justices of the Peace). Several members of the Justice of the Peace Association took time out of their day to help members of the Planning and Development Committee better understand what officiating marriages is all about. Testimony included the need for training, improving the appointment process, developing systems to address illegal marriages (forced, trafficked and fraudulent), tracking the marriage status of couples and more.
Oral Testimony
JPus Managing Member Loretta Jay was joined by JPus members Jennifer Marshall Nealy, Anna Neumon and Katherine Vass speaking before the Planning and Development Committee on March 10, 2025. Recordings of their testimonies are visible below: Top left: Loretta Jay; top right: Jennifer Marshall Nealy. Bottom left: Anna Neumon; bottom right: Katherine Vass.
Written Testimony
We’re grateful to the JPs who submitted written testimony in support of HB7150.
- David Bedell
- Dale Kroop
- Laura Minor
- Anna Neumon
- Alan Shaw
- Kathleen Taylor
- Katherine Vass
In addition, Justice of the Peace Association Managing Member Loretta Jay; Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas; and Mark Bernacki from the Connecticut Town Clerk Association also submitted written testimony supporting the bill. Read all of the written testimony on the Connecticut General Assembly’s website.
Related Links
- How-to Testify in support of the bill, with written sample
- See the bill, HB7150, with highlighted sections related to JPs who perform marriages.
- The Justice of the Peace Association’s white paper
- The legislative backstory.
- Member Support article about how to advocate to support legislation
Testify in Support of CT JP Bill – 3/10/2025
See our template to guide your written and oral testimony- Oral testimony can be by Zoom or in person. Maximum time allowed is three minutes, though legislators may ask you questions extending your time. Link to sign up is below.
Sign-up to speak or submit written testimony in Support of HB7150
- Register to speak in-person or by Zoom. Deadline to sign-up is 3PM Sunday. Three minute time limit. The speaker order is randomized and is released at 6PM on Sunday night.
- Submit your written testimony here. The hearing is on March 10, 2025 at 10:30AM. Indicate that you SUPPORT HB7150.
HB7150, An Act Concerning Justices of the Peace
The Justice of the Peace Association worked with the state legislators who introduced the bill, along with Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas on the language of the bill. This is the critical bill to address problems Connecticut JPs have reported:
- Establishing training and qualifications for JPs. The bill requires JPs to pass a test following their appointment. Training may be implemented, too.
- Inability to transfer JP appointments between municipalities. This will be addressed through a working group tasked with examining issues related to JPs.
- Favoritism and discrimination by DTCs and RTC impeding the appointment process. This will also be explored through the working group.
- Disparity toward unaffiliated and minor political party voters. The bill is a step in the right direction, creating a second window for non-major political party JPs to be appointed. JPus encourages testimony to support these vacant JP positions being filled at any time, not only during the two periods outlined in the legislation.
- Unbefitting JPs that make more work for town clerks and give professional JPs a bad name. This bill defines misconduct and establishes consequences for such behavior.
See the key points and the bill with highlighted language that relates to JPs who perform marriages.
Zoom Q&A, Two Sessions Scheduled Sunday: 9AM or 6PM
Questions? Join JPus’ Managing Member Loretta Jay on Sunday, March 9, 20025 at either 9AM or 6PM for more information about the proposed bill, guidance on how to submit written testimony and how to testify in person or by Zoom. Members and non-members are welcome.
- If you are on JPus’ email distribution list, please check your email for the Zoom links.
- If you don’t receive our emails yet, you can sign up here. A reminder will be sent on Sunday at 6AM with the link. If you missed that deadline, please email [email protected] to receive the Zoom links.
Related Links
- How-to Testify in support of the bill, with written sample
- See the bill, HB7150, with highlighted sections related to JPs who perform marriages.
- The Justice of the Peace Association’s white paper
- The legislative backstory.
- JPus 2023 Managing Member’s testimony to the Planning and Development Committee that summarizes the problem.
- Member Support article about how to advocate to support legislation