The next state to legalize same-sex marriage may be Hawaii, where the state's Legislature will begin a special session on the issue Monday. The governor called the session so that lawmakers could consider the Marriage Equality Act, which would allow same-sex couples to wed.
NPR's Nathan Rott reports for our Newscast unit:
"The gay marriage debate is nothing new to Hawaii. In 1990, gay couples who applied for a marriage license there helped start the national debate that resulted in the Defense of Marriage Act, the law that was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year.
"Proponents for same-sex marriage, including Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, are trying to ride national momentum, pushing for legislation that would make Hawaii the 15th state to legalize gay marriage. They argue that the bill extends the state's Aloha spirit of equality and would spur tourism.
"Opponents of the bill have organized protests, saying that Hawaiian voters should decide the issue, not the state's lawmakers."
Gay marriage was in a legal gray area in Hawaii after 1993, when the state's supreme court ruled in favor of the unions. But a constitutional amendment that was adopted five years later took jurisdiction from the courts and gave it to the Legislature, which then banned same-sex marriages.
In Honolulu, this weekend has been marked by rallies organized by groups on both sides of the issue, Hawaii News Now reports. More rallies will take place Monday.
I swear Hawaii has GOT to be the most gay state in the US. And I mean that as a compliment.
The entire place smells like flowers, everybody wears brightly colored shirts, and it was there that a 20 year old man-child from Alaska first learned about Mahus. (Believe me my introduction was not nearly as unsettling as my roommate from Ohio, who received his culture shock only after his date dropped "her" skirt in the hotel room he had rented.)
Like I said I am only surprised that Hawaii was NOT the first state to openly accept gay marriage.
(I guess this is where the Right Wing starts wagging their fingers and exclaiming that "they knew the President was gay, and somehow this proves it.")
P.S. And yes, before anybody starts trying to lecture me, I DO realize that not all transvestites are gay. It just so happened that the few Mahu's I met in Hawaii were.
I kinda thought it was mandatory...
ReplyDeleteSarah shouldn't have dropped out of college in Hawaii. She would have fit right in as a Mahu!
ReplyDeleteNow THAT'S funny!
DeleteDid you ever read Mitchener's epic about the colonizers of Hawai'i? The ones who held power over a population which had never held those imported prejudices? Well, their descendants are still holding sway in many ways, both societal and economical.
ReplyDeleteI thought they were the first state to have gay marriage.
ReplyDeleteOr was that universal health care?
I always thought they had because of Richard Chamberlain and Jim Nabors both establishing residences there.
ReplyDeleteGood. That ought to keep the TeaBaggers away. They won't be missed. Their pasty whiteness causes a glare problem anyhow.
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad; plenty of people who are gay have been confused exactly where Hawaii landed on the issue. I think it was 10 years ago or more, they bravely tried for it even ahead of Massachusetts, got stymied and settled for the 'domestic partnership' nonsense for the time being. I am sure they'll evolve faster than my state.
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It was Virginia that Loving had to drag to the Supreme Court for black and white to marry, and it'll take a more robust and younger couple than me and my guy to get them there again on this issue. You may always taken it as a given that when our Constitution is exercised to expand the idea of 'equal justice under law' to more Americans, it'll be the former slave states that have to be dragged and screaming into the light.
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I just read in the last day that Cuccinelli is down 20 points in most polls, but I can't wait till next week to be even one more vote against him.
So we spent a little time on Hotel Street, did we, Jesse?
ReplyDeleteNever a dull moment there.
As a resident of Maui, it's easily apparent that the continuing spread of fundamentalist religions here is responsible for the problems in recognizing equal marriage. Big surprise huh?
ReplyDeleteChurches were much more outspoken during the civil unions fight, and some got into trouble and had to pay fines for their outright politicking. It passed the legislature but Rethug Gov & Palin-lover,Lingle vetoed it & said it should be voted on. Abercrombie finally got it passed & signed.
The Mormon Church, a gigantic presence, here has learned a tiny bit and phrase their condemnation in different ways but it's clear where they stand.
The growing presence of Dominionist/Reconstructionists mega churches are adding their voices loud & strong. They're running ads asking people to call their reps and tell them to put it up for a vote. They still don't get it that civil rights are NOT up to the majority. They're also trying to add amendments exempting any business from having to serve the LGBT if it's against their religious or moral convictions. Churches here charge big bucks to perform weddings for tourists & anyone except the LGBT. They don't want to lose that source of revenue because of their bigotry. Sound familiar?
The fact that our State Constitution sez that they can't discriminate against anyone based on their sexual orientation continues to escape them. They've already lost in Court on more than one occasion for doing so. We all know the Constitution means doodly squat to these wanna-be theocrats.
Damn those early missionaries and the even worse ones who are elevating the harm to new levels now.
It is clear though that the tide is turning, even some legislators who previously voted against civil unions and have always opposed Gay marriage have seen the light and are now talking about why they've changed their minds and now will vote for it.
"Proponents for same-sex marriage, including Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie," Color me surprised! Have you SEEN the models in his catalogue?
ReplyDeleteAll joking aside, I never thought I'd see the day when ANY state would allow marriage equality, I'm thrilled for the LGBT community. and for the progress we've witnessed under the leadership of President Obama.
Yes, you are the only one who thought that.
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