Subscribe to Breaking NewsRuby-Sachs: Hawaii Protests
Japanese-American Elly Matsumura (2nd-R) and her partner of three years Janette Ishida (L) from Hawaii are surrounded by family and friends during their wedding ceremony at the San Francisco City Hall 19 February, 2004
Where there is a gay marriage initiative there are bound to be gay marriage protesters and Hawaii is no exception. The vote in committee today brought out over 2000 protesters with signs getting the word out about our impending trip to hell.
Well, I am completely fine with the condemnation. In fact, if I accept my fate after death can we stop fighting so much in this life?
In Hawaii, the only objection that makes any sense to me is the fact that same-sex workers, with full marriage equality, will be eligible for partner benefits under their employment health care plan. For those who employ gay workers who are also in committed relationships, there may be a slight increase in insurance rates (Hawaii has excellent laws about health care coverage and requires all workers who are in the office 20 hours a week or more be covered by their employer).
This is the same quandary gay people face in every state: how do you reason with an opposition movement that is up in arms about an issue that has practically no effect on their own lives? If God hates gays, he’ll condemn us later, don’t worry, he can handle it on his own. If your marriage is sacred, it will be sacred even after mine is legal.
Even the opposition of racists against integrating washrooms and water fountains had some (if mythical) effect on the lives of those who were so upset about civil rights.
This explains why so much of the anti-gay advertising is based on lies. Gay marriage will not threaten the autonomy of churches, nor will it threaten their tax exempt status (unfortunately). Gay marriage will not effect the curriculum of public or religious schools. It won’t thrust gay relationships into the mainstream any more than they already are. I mean, didn’t anyone see the Oscars?
I have to believe that truth will eventually triumph over ignorance – even in Hawaii which has had an unsuccessful history with gay marriage initiatives. Until then, it is our obligation to continue debunking myths about gay marriage propagated by the religious opposition.
Very well said Emma.
Jeff – if by ancient you mean 2004 then they are ancient – and thank you for commenting that my marriage is ancient – my husband and I were married the day before that picture was taken.
Aside from the small-mindedness of the protestors, don’t think Hawaii is so great when it comes to health benefits. Many, many jobs here are structured to make sure employees never work more than 19 hours a week. Lots of jobs here that would otherwise be full-time are instead shared by two or more workers. It is very common for many workers to have 2 or 3 jobs because many employers refuse to employ full-time. One can imagine the challenges of maintaining schedules with 3 jobs as part-time work often requires employees to be flexible and work is scheduled at the whim of the employer. Great in theory, not so much in practice.
This is a weird comment, but is that really a picture of the protesters, cause they have Ancient cell phones…
The opposition to gay rights is not out of ignorance. It is out of hate. These fundamentalists are no different than the radical clerics and their brain dead followers in Muslim countries.