Tarnished Rainbow: Hawaii Kills Civil Unions Bill

[cali]

Aloha only goes so far when it comes to same-sex couples in Hawaii, where the Democratic-controlled state Senate let a bill to recognize civil unions die in committee yesterday. But will it have an effect on rainbow travelers, who might consider an unofficial Napa-style boycott? If so, the timing couldn't be worse, since the islands' tourism industry has already been hit at near hurricane-force by the bad economy.


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"Hawaii ranks among the gay-friendliest destinations on the planet," according to About.com's gay and lesbian travel expert Andrew Collins, in his review of "The Out Traveler: Hawaii." That confirms the impression that Hawaii Insider has gleaned from the LG travelers she's met in the islands or here on the Mainland. Hawaii apparently also has the highest-ranking transgendered elected official, Kim Coco Iwamoto of Hawaii's Board of Education (and an S.F. State alumna), who recently testified at the Capitol on behalf of the same-sex civil union bill.

The uproar over the bill, however, has not been so gay-friendly. The cliche is that killed bills die "quietly" in committee, but this House-approved legislation has generated a lot of noise -- loud and hate-filled. It's come in the form of a rally at Hawaii's Capitol led by religious leaders against civil equality for gay and lesbian partners (who currently have only limited "reciprocal benefits"); in disrespectful jeers at those testifying on behalf of the bill at state hearings, as former Stanford and UC Berkeley law professor Linda Krieger experienced; and in vehement comments in the blogosphere and letters to the editor.

The relatively calm, respectful response of civil union proponents, such as a candlelight vigil in Honolulu and a show of support from an interfaith coalition of religious leaders at the Capitol have not been able to compete with the raised voices of the other side. And some would argue that's because the bill's supporters must be in the minority: After all, Hawaii voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing their legislature to define marriage as only involving a man and a woman (which it did).

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/hawaii/detail?&entry_id=37492

[mahina]

1. This was a huge fight that I promise will cost a bunch of people their seats.

If anybody wants to stay away from Hawaii because we lost this round, I guess that's their busines.

In addition to the LGBT community, there are a lot of straight people, yours truly included, who won't sit still for this travesty.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5119947

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5223024

[cali]

2. Sounds ugly from the article

I hope you guys can make some progress.

[mahina]

4. Thanks. I was discouraged to see my post here asking for support sink like a stone,

as did my post on the bad news.

[msongs]

3. guess what? mormons have a big influence in Hawaii. nt

[bluedawg12]

5. "the Democratic-controlled state Senate"

The Democratic Governor, who opposes marriage equality.

NY the Democratic Senate majority leader.

Just off the top of my head.

When I see the words marriage equality, or CU, or DADT fail, I now expect it to be followed by the words:

"The Democratic (insert office holder) did not support ..."

[mahina]

9. Republican governor btw

Lesbian, Republican governor.

[mitchtv]

6. One more time..

Take the pledge,, No Gay votes or $upport for politicians who are not up front Pro marriage equality

[sui generis]

7. well we should have called it civil broom jumpin'

They probably would have let us pass that. Till death do you part, or the sale of one or the other of you by your master.

How fucking stupid are these so-called Americans who believe that they govern without our consent?

Make the law ignore our rights, and we ignore the law. As it has always been and shall ever be.

[Deep13]

8. One step forward, two backwards.

:banghead: