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Hawaii's Former Anti-Gay Gov. Linda Lingle to Run for Senate

Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle has announced that she will run for U.S. Senate, reports the Honolulu Star Advertiser. The twice-divorced and lame duck Republican governor gained national notoriety when she cowardly vetoed a civil unions bill in July 2010.

Lingle, the first woman and the first Republican elected governor in four decades, will stress her chief executive experience in her campaign. ... Lingle will face John Carroll, an attorney and former state lawmaker, in the Republican primary. Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and former Rep. Ed Case are the Democratic contenders to replace U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, who is not seeking another term next year.

Democrats plan to highlight Lingle's relationship to Sarah Palin. "Lingle, who knew Palin from the Republican Governors Association, spoke warmly of Palin when she was the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2008 and helped introduce her at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul."

HB 444, the previous Hawaii civil unions bill, passed by the legislature in April 2010. Proclaiming that she was against "same gender marriage", the twice-opposite-gender married and twice-opposite-gender divorced Republican governor  announced her veto of HB444 on July 6, 2010. "I'm comfortable about my decision," Lingle said at the time. "I gave it the respect it deserved."

Civil unions are now legal in Hawaii. Hawaii became the seventh state to grant civil unions to same-sex couples when Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed them into law in February 2011. Six states and the District of Columbia grant equal marriage.

VIDEO: New Hawaii Anti-Bullying Campaign Features College Athletes

Today is National Safe Schools Day sponsored by the Safe Schools Action Network. Hawaii launched an ambitious anti-bullying initiative today, with a series of public service announcements featuring several of the University of Hawaii's star athletes, reports the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

The spots, funded by First Hawaiian Bank, will air on several television stations and sports telecasts. The anti-bullying initiative is aimed at increasing monitoring of bullying offenses and improving efforts to stop bullying. [...]

The Department of Education will present its complete bullying plan at a Board of Education meeting today. At a news conference this morning, BOE Chairman Don Horner said “today is the first step” to address the problem of bullying in public schools.

Also at the news confernece, Gov. Neil Abercrombie recounted his own experiences with bullying as a child growing up in Buffalo, N.Y., where he said he was singled out because he wasn’t Polish, Irish or Italian. "When somebody picks on you because of your name, let me tell you, that’s rough," Abercrombie said. He added, "When you treat someone else disrespectfully it doesn't make you bigger. It makes you smaller."

It;s been a busy year for equality in Hawaii. Earlier this year, two of Abercrombie's first acts after assuming office was appointing openly lesbian Judge Sabrina McKenna to the Hawaii Supreme Court and signing the civil unions bill into law.

The PSAs feature UH’s Kanani Danielson (Volleyball), Richard Torres (Football), Jessica Iwata (Softball) and Miah Ostrowski (Football and Men's Basketball). Watch several of the PSAs HERE.

Watch one of the PSAs plus KHOU's report WHEN YOU JUMP ...

WATCH: Obama Releases Birth Certificate, Decries "Silliness"

Speaking to reporters in the White House Briefing Room, the President slammed the culture of "silliness" surrounding his birth certificate and his birth in Hawaii.

"We do not have time for this kind of silliness," President Obama said. "We've got better stuff to do. I've got better stuff to do. We've got big problems to solve."

The President said he decided to distribute the long-form birth certificate (PDF) document now because during intense budget negotiations a few weeks ago, the "dominant news story" was his birth certificate. "We're not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers," the President added.

The birth certificate was posted this morning at the White House Web site. Real estate developer and possible GOP presidential contender Donald Trump is already taking credit for the White House's decision. Watch the news conference AFTER THE JUMP ...

White House Releases Obama's "Long Form Birth" Certificate

The White House has posted a copy of President Barack Obama's "long-form" birth certificate from the State of Hawaii. So-called "birthers" have been demanding this to prove that he was not born in the United States and is a legitimate president.

The birth certificate was posted online at the White House Web site:

In 2008, in response to media inquiries, the President’s campaign requested his birth certificate from the state of Hawaii. The state sent the campaign the President’s birth certificate, the same legal documentation provided to all Hawaiians as proof of birth in state, and the campaign immediately posted it on the internet. That birth certificate can be seen here (PDF).

When any citizen born in Hawaii requests their birth certificate, they receive exactly what the President received. In fact, the document posted on the campaign website is what Hawaiians use to get a driver’s license from the state and the document recognized by the Federal Government and the courts for all legal purposes. That’s because it is the birth certificate. This is not and should not be an open question.

The President believed the distraction over his birth certificate wasn’t good for the country. It may have been good politics and good TV, but it was bad for the American people and distracting from the many challenges we face as a country. Therefore, the President directed his counsel to review the legal authority for seeking access to the long form certificate and to request on that basis that the Hawaii State Department of Health make an exception to release a copy of his long form birth certificate. They granted that exception in part because of the tremendous volume of requests they had been getting. President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate can be seen here (PDF):

The contention that Obama was not born in the United States, and does not meet the constitutional requirements for the presidency, was refuted years ago. The meme has gained exposure in recent months as it has been pushed by real estate developer and possible GOP presidential contender Donald Trump.

WATCH: MSNBC's Thomas Roberts on the Big Week for LGBT Rights

The past week saw significant advances on LGBT rights in Hawaii, Maryland, Prop 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act. MSNBC anchor and Baltimore native Thomas Roberts—who recently told Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown that he  would like to take advantage of marriage equality in his home state some day—wrapped  the events.

Via JoeMyGod, watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie Signs Civil Unions Bill

Within the last hour, Hawaii Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed the civil unions bill into law, reports the Star Advertiser.

"E Komo Mai: It means all are welcome," Abercrombie said in remarks before signing the bill into law. "This signing today of this measure says to all of the world that they are welcome. That everyone is a brother or sister here in paradise. The legialization of civil unions in Hawaii represents in my mind equal rights for all people," he said.

Senate Bill 232 allows all couples — same-sex and heterosexual — to enter into a civil union, a legal status with all the rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities as traditional marriage. [It] contains specific provisions aimed at clarifying implementation for the state Department of Health.

The civil unions bill was the first bill signed by the new governor.

The bill is "substantively similar" to HB 444, the measure passed last year. Hawaii's twice-divorced and lame duck Republican Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed that bill in July 2010 supposedly to "protect" traditional marriage.

Civil unions would begin Jan. 1, 2012, making the Aloha State the seventh in the nation to grant civil unions. Five states and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie to Sign Civil Unions Bill Wednesday

Hawaii lawmakers gave final approval to civil unions last week and Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie will sign the bill this week, reports the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced today that he will sign the civil unions bill Wednesday at Washington Place, a day earlier than originally scheduled. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Video will be streamed live at the governor’s website.

The state Senate on Wednesday voted 18-5 to give final legislative approval to Senate Bil 232, which would legalize civil unions in Hawaii. The bill allows all couples — same-sex and heterosexual — to enter into a civil union, a legal status with all the rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities as traditional marriage.

The bill is "substantively similar" to HB 444, the measure passed last year. Hawaii's twice-divorced and lame duck Republican Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed that bill in July 2010 supposedly to "protect" traditional marriage.

The law represents the end of a nearly 20-year battle for same-sex unions. A 1993 state Supreme Court decision nearly made Hawaii the first state to legalize gay marriage. Congress reacted by passing the odious Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. Two years later, Hawaii "voters overwhelming passed the nation's first 'defense of marriage' constitutional amendment. Since then, 29 other states also have enacted marriage amendments," reports KITV.

Civil unions would begin Jan. 1, 2012, making the Aloha State the seventh in the nation to grant civil unions. Five states and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage.

Hawaii Senate Confirms Lesbian Sabrina McKenna to Supreme Court

Wednesday was a huge day for equality in Hawaii. The state Senate voted 18-5 for its final approval of SB 232, the civil unions bill yesterday. And only moments before that vote, it unanimously confirmed openly lesbian Judge Sabrina McKenna to the Hawaii Supreme Court.

McKenna will become the court's first openly gay justice, reports KITV.

The 53-year-old McKenna was a senior judge on Oahu's Family Court, and she's been a state judge in district and circuit court for 17 years. Previously, she was a private lawyer and law professor at the University of Hawaii. McKenna fills the vacancy created in September when Justice Mark Recktenwald was elevated to chief justice in September. When she takes office, it will be the first time in Hawaii's history that two women have sat on the five-member court at the same time.

More from HRC Backstory:

Gov. Neil Abercrombie called the appointment the most important decision in his career, and said the "appointment sets the course for the state and its legal direction for the next several years. I’m completely confident that Judge McKenna’s appointment will be something I’m proud of for the rest of my life." Judiciary Chair Clayton Hee, gave impassioned remarks on the floor of the Senate and his colleagues confirmed McKenna unanimously, including the sole Republican in the chamber, Sam Slom, who also spoke well of the nominee. 

McKenna, born and raised in Japan, was appointed to a 10-year term on the Hawaii Supreme Court by a vote of 23-0. She becomes only the second out lesbian state supreme court justice in the nation. Colorado Deputy Attorney General Monica Marquez became the first Latino and the first openly gay jurist on that state's high court in December.

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Civil Unions Wins Final Approval in Hawaii, Governor to Sign

Brilliant. The Hawaii Senate has voted 18 to 5 for final approval of SB 232, the civil unions bill that passed the House last Friday. Gov. Neil Abercrombie says he will sign the bill into law and that "could happen as soon as this week," reports KITV.

The Star Advertiser adds:

"I have always believed that civil unions respect our diversity, protect people's privacy, and reinforce our core values of equality and aloha," Abercrombie said in a statement after the vote. ... For me, this bill represents equal rights for all the people of Hawaii."

Hawaii becomes the seventh state to grant civil unions to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself. Five states and Washington, D.C., permit same-sex marriage.

"Today is a momentous day," said Sen. Clayton Hee. "There is no denying that by this action Hawaii takes a significant step towards true equality."

SB 232 allows all couples—same-sex and heterosexual—to enter into a civil union, which will have "all the rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities as traditional marriage."

The bill is "substantively similar" to HB 444, the measure passed last year. Hawaii's twice-divorced and lame duck Republican Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed that bill in July 2010 to "protect" traditional marriage. Democratic Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, the pro-equality former longtime congressman, has "promised to sign whatever civil unions legislation is approved."

Next up: Maryland!

Hawaii House Approves Civil Unions

Excellent news from Hawaii. On Wednesday the House Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly approved SB 232, a civil unions bill "substantively similar" to the measure passed last year. The State House has approved the measure by a 31-19 vote, reports the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Senate Bill 232 would grant same-sex and heterosexual couples the ability to enter into a civil union with all of the rights, protections, benefits and responsibilities of traditional marriage.  The House changes — recommended by the state Attorney General's Office — clarify that because civil unions will not be recognized under federal law, certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that apply to husbands and wives in Hawaii would apply with the same force and effect to partners in civil unions. Family Court will also have jurisdiction in matters of annulment, divorce and separation in civil unions, as the court does over marriages.

The bill heads back to the Senate, which approved a similar version of the measure by a 19-6 vote on January 29. If the Senate agrees to the House's changes, the bill would go to Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who has "promised to sign whatever civil unions legislation is approved."