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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 Senate Passes Civil Unions Bill 19-6

Excellent news to report from Hawaii. Earlier this week a Senate committee advanced SB232, a civil unions bill "substantively similar" to the measure passed last year. The Senate overwhelmingly passed the measure on Friday, reports the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Senators voted 19-6 yesterday to approve Senate Bill 232, a proposal essentially the same as House Bill 444, Senate Draft 1, which passed both chambers last year. The proposal would grant all couples of the same or opposite sex the ability to enter into a civil union with all the rights, privileges, protections and responsibilities of traditional marriage.

The House could either approve SB 232 and send it to the governor or pass its own version. Both bodies need to agree on the language before sending a final bill to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who supports civil unions.

House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro, with 21 co-sponsors, has introduced a bill similar to a measure that was not heard in the Senate. The bill was crafted by select lawmakers, members of the governor's policy team and civil unions advocates and addresses some concerns about implementation of a civil unions law. The proposal spells out processes such as how the state Department of Health would oversee licensing of civil unions, and ensures that the rights extend to applicable health, insurance and tax codes.

The Democratic-dominated House and Senate have promised to move quickly on the legislation. Adds KITV: "Supporters hope one amendment would move the effective date to July 1, 2011, and take effect without government rulemaking, which would mean civil unions could begin this summer."

HB 444, the previous Hawaii civil unions bill, passed the legislature in April 2010. Hawaii's twice-divorced and lame duck Republican Gov. Linda Lingle  vetoed HB444 last July 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."

Hawaii Senate Committee Advances Civil Unions Bill

A civil unions bill "substantively similar" to the measure vetoed by the previous governor last year passed a Hawaii Senate committee, reports the Star-Advertiser.

Senate Bill 232 passed the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee by a 3-2 vote, after a hearing that lasted just over two hours. The proposal in SB 232 is substantively the same as House Bill 444, Senate Draft 1, that Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed last year, calling it same-sex marriage by another name. It would grant same-sex and heterosexual couples the ability to enter into civil unions and receive the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as marriage under state law.

Supporters and opponents packed the Capitol Auditorium for the hearing on SB 232, but the crowd was substantially smaller than last year, when the hearing lasted 18 hours. Testimony was roughly split.

Alan Spector, co-chairman of Equality Hawaii, urged lawmakers to consider incorporating elements of SB 231, a similar bill crafted by Abercrombie's policy advisers, gay activists and select lawmakers and written to ensure that the rights extend to applicable health, insurance and tax codes.

The bill heads to the Senate floor for the second of three required votes by the full chamber. A House version has not yet been introduced but could be introduced as soon as tomorrow.

HB 444, the previous Hawaii civil unions bill, passed by the legislature in April 2010. Hawaii's twice-divorced and lame duck Republican Gov. Linda Lingle  vetoed HB444 last July to "protect" traditional marriage. Democratic Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, the pro-equality former longtime congressman, has vowed to sign a civil unions bill.

Pro-LGBT Neil Abercrombie's Huge Win in Hawaii Dem Gov Primary

Good news to report from Hawaii. Neil Abercombie, the pro-equality former longtime congressman, is now the Democratic nominee for governor after a resounding primary win on Saturday, reports the Star-Advertiser.

Abercrombie crushed former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann 60 percent to 38 percent statewide and took Oahu, the Big Island and Maui while narrowly losing on Kauai. A Star-Advertiser analysis of the primary election by state House district found that Abercrombie won all but four districts: Wailuku and Kahului on Maui and Lihue and Koloa on Kauai. Abercrombie, who represented urban Honolulu in Congress for two decades, dominated on Oahu. Some of his largest margins were in districts in Hawaii Kai, Pacific Heights, Kailua and his home in Manoa. Hannemann, who served as Honolulu mayor for the past six years, lost every district on his home turf and only managed to take a handful of precincts in Pearl City, Kapolei and Kahuku.

Abercrombie supports full marriage equality. Hannemann opposed HB444, the bill that would have allowed same-sex and opposite-sex couples the right to enter into civil unions.  Hawaii's twice-divorced and lame duck Republican Gov. Linda Lingle cowardly vetoed HB444 last July to "protect" traditional marriage.

Neil Abercrombie will face the stridently anti-gay Republican Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona in November.

ACLU, Lambda Legal to Sue Hawaii and Lingle for Equal Rights for Gays

Three weeks after Hawaii's twice-divorced and lame duck Republican Gov. Linda Lingle cowardly vetoed HB444, the civil unions bill, six gay couples in the Aloha State will file a lawsuit today asking for the same rights as married couples. The lawsuit is being brought by Lambda Legal and the ACLU.

"The lawsuit doesn't seek the titles of 'marriage' or 'civil unions' for gay partners. Instead, it requests that the court system extend them the benefits and responsibilities of marriage based on the Hawaii Constitution's prohibition against sex discrimination. 'We continue to be discriminated against,' said plaintiff Suzanne King, who has been in a relationship with her partner for 29 years. 'We're a family unit, and we live our lives just like everyone else, but we aren't treated the same.' The legal action in state court comes as a response to the Republican governor's veto July 6, when she said voters should decide whether to reserve marriage for couples of a man and a woman."

And:

"The office of Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett declined comment Wednesday because it hadn't yet been served with the lawsuit. The state grants some rights to gay couples through its reciprocal beneficiaries system. But they lack the same legal priviledges and obligations of adoption, child support, alimony and access to family court, said Jennifer Pizer, senior counsel for Lambda Legal, which is bringing the case along with the American Civil Liberties Union."

The suit is expected to reach the Hawaii Supreme Court. 

Stridently anti-gay  Republican Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, who is a candidate for governor, opposes civil unions. On the Democratic side, only former congressman Neil Abercrombie supports fully equality.

HB444 News: Editorial Slams Veto; Aiona; ACLU, Lambda Legal to Sue

A few overnight developments on the veto of HB444 ...

Hawaii's dominant newspaper has slammed the twice-divorced Republican governor's veto of HB444. In an editorial in the Star-Advertiser, the editors criticize Gov. Linda Lingle's "weak rationalization" for vetoing the "most consequential" legislation put before her.

"I am vetoing this bill because I have become convinced that it is of such societal importance that it needs to be decided by all the people of Hawaii," she said. This is a weak rationalization. Decisions dealing with the civil rights of a minority population -- and HB 444 in its essence attempts to equalize the civil rights of all couples -- are unsuited to be put to a popular vote. Civil rights decisions of the past, including the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, would not have won passage had they been left up to the electorate. Preventing the tyranny of the majority is precisely the province of representative government.

Democratic State Sen. Les Ihara Jr: "She is taking us back 100 years if we are going to decide civil-rights issues by majority rule."

"It's beyond problematic," said Steven Levinson, a retired associate justice of the state Supreme Court, whose daughter is a lesbian. "By definition, civil rights can't be defined by the majority. That's why we have a Bill of Rights, both at the federal and the state level. By their very nature, individual liberties are intended to be counter-majoritarian."

Anti-gay Catholic Republican Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, who is also a candidate for governor, applauds the veto for "making this difficult and courageous decision." If elected governor,  Aiona says he "will propose a constitutional amendment to take the issue to the voters."

Former congressman and pro-equality gubernatorial candidate Neil Abercrombie: "It will be up to the next governor and Legislature to ensure that all people of Hawaii receive equal treatment. Protecting people’s civil rights cannot be compromised." 

Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii will file a lawsuit against Lingle and Hawaii. The suit has been ready  since the House tabled HB 444 in January.

WATCH: Twice-Divorced Republican Governor Protects Marriage

Proclaiming that she was against "same gender marriage", the twice-opposite-gender married and twice-opposite-gender divorced Republican governor of Hawaii announced her veto of HB444, the civil unions bill. "I'm comfortable about my decision," said Linda Lingle. "I gave it the respect it deserved."

Respect? You keep telling yourself that, Miss Serial Divorcée. Via JoeMyGod, watch the news conference WHEN YOU JUMP ....

Hawaii GOP Gov. Linda Lingle VETOES HB444, Civil Unions Bill

Hawaii's Republican Gov. Linda Lingle today has vetoed HB444, a bill that would have allowed same-sex and opposite-sex couples the right to enter into civil unions.  "It is essentially marriage by another name," Lingle said at a press conference in the last hour, echoing similar comments made in May. "Because it has the same rights, benefits, responsibilities and protections."

Lingle added that she did not support "same gender marriage" and called for a referendum. "It would be a mistake to allow a decision of this magnitude to be made by one individual. This issue deserves to be decided by all the people of Hawaii."

The legislation passed the Hawaii House on April 29 by a 31–20 vote and the state Senate on Jan. 22 by an 18–7 vote. The Senate vote was enough to override a veto. The House vote was not and would need 34 votes to override. Apparently, there will be no veto session, reports  The Star-Advertiser: "House leaders announced on Friday that they would not return for a one-day veto override session today. Senate leaders had said they were willing to return. The House's decision left the fate of the civil-unions bill solely in Lingle's hands for this year.

Evangelicals,  social conservatives and the Hawaii Catholic Diocese have organized massive anti-gay demonstrations against the legislation. Lingle's devoutly Catholic and staunchly anti-gay Lt. Governor James "Duke" Aiona, who is running to succeed the governor, has slammed HB444 and promised a November voter referendum on civil unions if the bill were to become law.

These are Lingle's final months in office and signing the bill would have cost her nothing politically. The Republican governor is determined to ride out of office on a broom and leaves behind a legacy of intolerance.

Hawaii GOP Gov. Linda Lingle to Put Civil Unions on Potential Veto List

Hawaii's stridently anti-gay Republican Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona has announced Gov. Linda Lingle will mark the pending civil unions legislation on the potential veto list Monday, reports KITV.

"Aiona said that does not mean the governor will veto the bill that would give all the rights of marriage under Hawaii law to same sex and heterosexual couples. 'It will be a potential veto and the governor right now is crafting her decision as to whether of not she will or will not veto that bill. Some, we will find out. The deadline for that is July 6,' Aiona said. The governor's potential veto list is to inform lawmakers of bill that might be vetoes to give them time to determine if they want to override her vetoes."

The Hawaii House passed HB444 by a 31-20 vote on April 29. The bill passed the Senate 18-7 in January. The Senate vote was enough to override a veto, but the House vote was not. The House would need 34 votes to override.

Evangelicals,  social conservatives and the Hawaii Catholic Diocese organized massive anti-gay demonstrations against the legislation. The Catholic and staunchly anti-gay Aiona, who is running to succeed Lingle, has slammed HB444 and promised a November voter referendum on civil unions if the bill is passed.

Hawaii GOP Gov. Linda Lingle Meets with Anti-Gay Activists

An update on HB444, the Hawaii civil unions bill passed by the legislature last month. Republican Gov. Linda Lingle says she wants to hear from both sides and held a two-hour meeting on Monday with about 30 anti-gay activists, reports KHON2.

"'House Bill 444 is not about civil rights but about creating special rights,' said civil unions opponent Garrett Hashimoto. Religious leaders and several youth were among the group. 'For example, what comes next, same sex marriage? what comes next, homosexuality being taught in the schools?,' asked Ryan Mc Donald, civil union opponent. Recently the governor shared the factors she'll be considering as she weighs whether to veto, sign or let the measure become law without her signature. 'How the economy, the fiscal situation of the government would be affected, what programs would we now have to expand to cover a lot more people for instance so what would the economic impact be?,' asked Governor Linda Lingle.To that end proponents released a University of Hawaii economic analysis that said: 'The legalization of civil unions in Hawaii will have only a very minimal impact on any aspect of Hawaii's economy and state government operations.'"

Last week the governor described HB444 as "same sex marriage by a different name" to the Honolulu Advertiser. Lingle has until July 6 to veto, sign or let the bill become law without her signature. 

In related news: Republican Congressman-elect Charles Djou was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, reports the Honolulu Advertiser. Djou was the "least gay-friendly of the three leading candidates" who hoped to replace Democrat Neil Abercrombie, the strong LGBT rights ally who left Congress to run for governor. Djou has denounced HB444, civil unions and marriage equality.