Yes! Yes! Yes!
Happy dance time!
Hawaii: Marriage equality passes in state Senate 20-4
Hawaii: State Senate to vote on marriage equality – watch live
Popular thought is this vote is a done deal for the good guys, but it’s sometimes fascinating to watch history happen. I think it’s quite moving to be present when these steps forward in society happen.
The vote is expected to be in the realm of 21-4, but we never know what the real numbers will be here.
The real drama will be in House, although there are some reports that we have the necessary 26 votes there.
Hawaii: Marriage equality bill passes out of Senate committee
After 12 hours of hearing from hundreds of people on both sides of the contentious gay marriage issue, the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee passed Senate Bill 1 allowing same-sex couples to marry in Hawaii.
The committee voted 5-2 shortly after 10 p.m. Sens. Sam Slom, a Republican, and Mike Gabbard, a Democrat, voted against the bill.
The bill heads to the full Senate where many believe it will pass with vote close to 21-4. From there, it’s the House’s turn.
HawaiiNewsNow has polled the state reps and there appear to be 27 votes FOR the bill. Twenty-six are needed for passage. There are 7 undecided votes at this time. All are from Democrat districts.
Stay tuned.
(source)
NOM goes Hawaiian in anti-gay marriage ad
National Organization for Marriage rolls out a new ad opposing the upcoming votes in the state legislature on marriage equality.
Note the “authentic” use of words like “preserving the traditions of our island ohana” (meaning family) and the Hawaiian word for children, “keiki.”
Hawaii voters are split over making same-sex marriage legal in the islands, with 44 percent in support and 44 percent opposed.
The marriage equality bill is scheduled to get its first reading in the House on the 31st. If it passes, couples in the state may begin to marry as early as November 18th.
Hawaii: Marriage equality could begin by November 18th
According to the Associated Press, if the bill that will probably be before the Hawaii legislature passes, marriage equality could begin by November 18:
Hawaii could begin issuing licenses and performing ceremonies for gay couples on Nov. 18 if a bill passes during special session next week.
A Senate draft of the bill to be considered starting Monday says couples would be able to obtain licenses and be married the same day.
The draft posted Tuesday presents gay marriage as an equal rights issue, rather than a marriage issue. It changes sections in state law relating to marriage, marriage benefits and divorce.
The Legislature has begun accepting testimony on the bill, which will be introduced Monday and immediately referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Fingers crossed that, since Gov. Abercrombie called the special session, the votes will be there for the bill to become law.
Recent polls show a solid majority of 54% support legalizing marriage equality in the Aloha state.
Hawaii: Brian Brown distorts truth again on word of special legislative session for marriage equality
Brian Brown, of the ironically named National Organization for Marriage, couldn’t help himself this week as he took to the NOM blog to spread lies and propaganda about possible marriage equality in Hawaii:
“The Governor claims that there have been no complaints or lawsuits in Hawaii — yet. But that’s because marriage has not yet been redefined! Just look around elsewhere. In Vermont, Christian inn-keepers were fined for declining to host a same-sex wedding AND ordered to cease hosting weddings altogether.
Recently, the New Mexico state Supreme Court ruled that Christian photographers must compromise their beliefs and offer their services against their will by photographing same-sex ceremonies. Never mind that same-sex couples can easily find other photographers who are happy to participate in these ceremonies.
“Instead the court said the price of citizenship is having to compromise your faith. Most recently in Washington State, the Attorney General is suing a Christian florist for declining to use their talents to arrange flowers for a same-sex ‘marriage’ ceremony, while a baker in Oregon was driven out of business for declining to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple because it violated their deeply held religious beliefs. This is what the future looks like in Hawaii if marriage is redefined.”
What Mr. Brown leaves out of his icky little missive is that that Hawaii already has the same public accommodation law cited in the above cases.
The issues in New Mexico and Washington state are violations of public accommodation – NOT same-sex marriage.
You all do realize that this man is paid to spew this stuff. This is his job. When marriage equality is the law of the land across all of the US, he will be unemployed.
Hawaii: Special legislative session called to consider marriage equality
Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie WILL call a special session of the state legislature to consider marriage equality.
The special session will convene on October 28th. From Advocate:
“This is now the 20th year of discussion that has taken place on the issue and associated issues with it,” Abercrombie told reporters at a press conference. “I feel very, very strongly that the votes are there to pass this because it is time for marriage equity to take place.”
The special session will last about five days, and the proposed bill will include a religious exemption to quell the fears of those who worry marriage equality will be forced upon any church, Abercrombie said. If the bill is approved, same-sex marriages could begin in the state as early as November 18.
Good luck, Hawaii. Get out there, do that community outreach and get some “aloha.”
Hawaii waits as Gov. Abercrombie weighs special legislative session for marriage equality
Hawaii: Legislators meet with Gov. Abercrombie to decide on special session for marriage equality
Hawaii‘s Democratic Governor Neil Abercrombie will be meeting with state legislators to decide whether to call a special session to vote on same-sex marriage.
Dems have solid majorities in both houses, so the bill would have a strong chance of passing. Last month, Governor Abercrombie said it was “very likely” Democrats could come up with enough votes, and if so, he would call for a special session.
The governor has also submitted his own draft of legislation that would serve as the blueprint to passing marriage equality.
“The meeting comes more than a week after Abercrombie released an 18-page draft of legislation that would allow marriage licenses to be issued starting Oct. 3 and ceremonies to begin Nov. 1,” the AP reports.
A recent poll shows 55 percent of Hawaiian voters support marriage equality, and just 36 percent oppose it.
Hawaii: Not time for special legislative session for marriage equality
It’s looking like Hawaii still doesn’t have the votes to pass marriage equality in the state House:
State House Speaker Joseph Souki said today that Gov. Neil Abercrombie informed him that he was not ready to call a special session on gay marriage.
Souki would not say whether the House had the votes for a gay marriage bill after House Democrats met in private caucus to discuss a special session. The governor had been waiting for a House vote count before making his decision on a special session. The state Senate has the votes for a gay marriage bill.
When you have the votes, you call the vote. With all the support in the state legislature plus the Governor, you can trust there would be a special session if the votes were there.
UPDATE: According to the AP, Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Wednesday presented state lawmakers with a draft of legislation that would legalize gay marriage in Hawaii.
Abercrombie told reporters he would not rush a special session, or call one without lawmakers having a clear idea of what to do.
“I’m simply not going to consider a special session if it becomes something that gets dragged out and a recycling of previous history,” he said. “The bill’s there, we’re going to make ourselves available.”
He said his administration would let lawmakers digest the bill, and then discuss whether to have a special session.
According to an 18-page draft of the legislation released by Abercrombie’s office, Hawaii would begin issuing licenses Oct. 3, with ceremonies allowed to begin Nov. 1.