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Loading ...Hawaii civil unions bill passes house
02.13.2009 12:16pm EST
(Honolulu, Hawaii) A bill that would give same-sex couples in Hawaii all of the rights of marriage has passed the state House on a 33-17 vote. It now moves to the Senate.
The measure would legalize civil unions with all of the benefits, protections and responsibilities of marriage. It also would recognize domestic partnerships entered into in other states. Marriages from Massachusetts and Connecticut would be regarded as civil unions.Under the legislation, same-sex couples would have to obtain a license and then have the civil union performed by a judge, a retired judge or a member of the clergy.
“It’s really inspiring for me today,” said state House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro (D) the bill’s sponsor. But its main opponent, State Rep. Gene Ward (R) said it was the beginning of a “slippery slope” and that gays would not be satisfied until they got same-sex marriage. “This is not to condemn individuals, it’s to protect an institution,” he said.
In 1993, the Hawaii Supreme Court was the first in the country to rule that barring same-sex marriage could be a violation of the state constitutional protection of equal rights.
In 1997, the Legislature passed a domestic partner law allowing gay couples to register with the state Department of Health. It allowed couples to have rights as reciprocal beneficiaries in hospital visitations, inheritance and property, and the ability to sue for wrongful death.
But in 1998 as calls for same-sex marriage increased, nearly 70 percent of Hawaii voters passed a constitutional amendment giving the Legislature the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples.
Can someone please explain to me “What does it mean to protect the institution of marriage?”
Historical note: Hawaii was the FIRST state to bring this issue to the nation. It actually succeeded until the Hawaii Supreme Court gave the State the time to pass a constitutional amendment. That amendment merely gives the legislature the right to determine who can marry… At some point, the Legislature can choose to allow same-sex couples marry. *Likewise, they theoretically could choose to say ONLY same sex couples can marry… Odd. But, this equality fight started here. No thanks to non-Hawaii religious organizations, it was temporarily stalled. Not forever, though. Imua, Hawaii, Imua!
This story is misleading. No State can provide same-sex couples with ALL the rights married couples have. Even married gay married couples in States with gay marriage don’t get all the same rights as hetro married couples. They don’t get any Federal rights. They can’t fill out a joint income tax form or get their partner’s Social Security benefits and hundreds of other Federal rights.
well at least hawaii acknowledges their GLBT community we should have same rights as hetersexual couples have. We all pay taxes , we should have separate for paying taxes too if they going to deny our rights lol
Island boy,
“I’ve always viewed “marriage” as ceremonial and “civil union” as legal.”
Always? Odd, since the term civil union was invented as a response to the request for equal marriage. The very institution of “civil” (HA!) “unions” did not exist prior to 2000. And CUs most assuredly do NOT come with the LEGAL entitlements of marriage – not 1,176 of them! Maybe you didn’t know that.
Today is the 5th anniversary of my (LEGAL) marriage. Trust me on this, marriage is both ceremonial AND legal (at least as far as the US Gubmint treats heterosexuals who are married). Does anyone here even know a single “civilly unionized” heterosexual couple?
“As long as I am bestowed all the rights, benefits and protections of marriage, I’m good with that for the time being.”
But you AREN’T. What part of that don’t you understand?
“I can call myself married, and what can they do to stop me?”
They can’t stop you from calling yourself plaid, but saying it doesn’t make you plaid – OR married. What ‘they’ CAN do is deny you equal treatment before the law. They can deny you the 1,176 FEDERAL benefits that bestow to actually, legally married couples.
First off this is a good thing, one step closer to equality.
On a side, but related note. I just checked out http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ and the top story today (Feb 14) is that the Governor of Utah supports civil unions.
UTAH! the reddest of the red! Mind you it probably doesn’t have a snowball’s chance, but it’s still encouraging.
Some people will put up with “separate but equal” if they aren’t allowed to treat us as second-class anymore. For them, “civil union” is euphemism for “marriage.”
Regardless, I’ve always viewed “marriage” as ceremonial and “civil union” as legal. As long as I am bestowed all the rights, benefits and protections of marriage, I’m good with that for the time being. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Also, I can call myself married, and what can they do to stop me?
Eventually, the succeeding generations will view the so-called traditional definition of marriage as being between man and woman as archaic, and view those who still hang on to that definition as senile.
I love Hawaii.
“Like Haiti, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands? How many people get killed yearly in Hawaii just for being gay in comparison to those 3 hell holes?”
Umm, none of these places are in the Atlantic, but rather the Caribbean, grab a geographic clue noob! I’m guessing that Randy meant places like Spain and the Netherlands. Gawd!
c.m. Said: February 13th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
wake me up when they pass a gay marriage bill. i won’t be vactioning there anythime soon. i hope the bad economy ruins those bigots financial dreams.
Um…thanks? My economic outlook is tied to everyone else here in Hawaii
“This is not to condemn individuals, it’s to protect an institution,” he said.
From what????
The question they cannot answer since there is no threat to the institution, and which never seems to be asked of them by the mainstream press.
“Sorry, Hawaii, but you’re going to have to do a whole lot better than that to get me to fly that ocean, when the Altantic has so many more welcoming options.”
Like Haiti, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands? How many people get killed yearly in Hawaii just for being gay in comparison to those 3 hell holes?
Sorry, Hawaii, but you’re going to have to do a whole lot better than that to get me to fly that ocean, when the Altantic has so many more welcoming options.
02/13/09
6:25PM PST
GREAT Hawaii!! Love you! Aloha!!
wake me up when they pass a gay marriage bill. i won’t be vactioning there anythime soon. i hope the bad economy ruins those bigots financial dreams.
Way to go HaWaii:
But:
“This is not to condemn individuals, But to protect an institution” What a nice way to veneer your hate and prejudice with a polite spin.
Can anyone explain to me how or why something that most people are going to do at least once in their lives needs to be protected? It is really about how dare you gays think you are as good as us!
Tom in Long Beach