Tag: Hawaii

Posted on

Hawaii: Marriage equality would increase tourism by $217 million

A new economic analysis from the University of Hawaii says legalizing gay marriage in the state would boost tourism by $217 million over the next three years.

The study from the university’s Economic Research Organization says that would boost state and local general excise tax revenues by more than $10 million from 2014 through 2016.

The study’s author, Prof. Sumner LaCroix, says most of the added visitor spending would come from couples from other U.S. states that have legalized gay marriage. He estimates $166 million would be spent on marriage ceremonies and honeymoons.

(via the Star Advertiser)

Posted on

Hawaii: No marriage equality bill this session

Hawaii’s House Judiciary Committee has decided not to schedule a hearing for a marriage equality bill this session, the Star-Advertiser reports:

The decision today came on the day that about 150 supporters of gay marriage gathered at the state Capitol to call on legislators to take up a bill before it was too late.

State Rep. Karl Rhoads, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said that after polling his colleagues he determined there was not the political will for a gay-marriage bill this session.

(via StarAdvertiser)

Posted on

Hawaii: Marriage equality bill will not advance without hearing scheduled by tomorrow

Unless a hearing is scheduled by Tuesday, Hawaii’s marriage bill will not advance this year.

Hawaii United for Marriage is planning a lobby day at the Capitol rotunda in a couple of hours (11:30 am) for those of you in the Aloha State:

“We’re working hard to talk to as many voters as possible about the importance of contacting their legislator and urging them to support HB 1109. Join us on Monday, February 11th at the Capitol Rotunda in Honolulu with hundreds of supporters making their voices heard by speaking face to face with their legislators.”

Posted on

Freedom To Marry announces $2 million in support for marriage equality in 6 states

According to Buzzfeed, Freedom to Marry has just announced they plan to spend $2 million in 2013 to advance marriage equality efforts around the country:

According to a statement provided to BuzzFeed, Freedom to Marry is starting the 2013 effort — called the Win More States Fund — by investing $800,000 in the six states where marriage bills are being debated: Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

“Building on our 4 for 4 ballot victories in November, Freedom to Marry is calling on supporters to join us in continuing the momentum and winning still more states in 2013.

“With the clock ticking on the Supreme Court’s review of marriage cases, we want to make as much progress as we can – and with battles already underway now in state capitals, we all need to put our money where our momentum is,” Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, said in a statement.

Posted on

Hawaii: Lone GOP state senator concedes marriage equality will probably pass this year

A constitutional amendment passed in 1998 gave Hawaii’s legislature the power to define marriage which currently only applies to heterosexual couples.  But Senator Sam Slom, Hawaii’s only Republican state Senator, says that could soon be changing.

Same-sex marriage proposals are introduced every year and have always failed, but Senator Slom believes Senate Bill 1369 has the support to pass this legislative session– though he plans to vote against it.

“Same sex marriage probably will pass this year. You’ve got a preponderance of Democrats who support it in both Houses (44 out of 51 House Reps are Democrats,  24 out of 25 state Senators are Democrats), you’ve got the Congressional delegation, you’ve got our Governor!” said Senator Slom.

Senator Slom says he’s voting against the bill because he has concerns about the rights of religious organizations who do not want to perform or recognize same-sex marriages.

“To me, I don’t care if gay people want to get married but to force other people to do things or to subsidize certain activities– that I oppose,” said Senator Slom.

Senate Bill 1369 has been referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.  If it passes as written, same-sex couples could legally marry in Hawaii by January 2014

The evil forces at the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage are already panicking.

More at Hawaii News Now.

Posted on

Hawaii Governor names Lt. Gov to US Senate seat

From the AP: Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz of Hawaii was appointed Wednesday to succeed the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the appointment after receiving a list of three candidates from the state Democratic Party earlier in the day. The other candidates were U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Esther Kiaaina, a deputy director in the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Inouye died Dec. 17 of respiratory complications at the age of 88. He had sent Abercrombie a letter that day, saying he would like Hanabusa, 61, to succeed him.

“Sen. Inouye conveyed his final wish to Gov. Abercrombie. While we are very disappointed that it was not honored, it was the governor’s decision to make,” Jennifer Sabas, Inouye’s chief of staff, said in a statement. “We wish Brian Schatz the best of luck.”

Schatz, who is 40, will serve until an election is held in 2014. Had Hanabusa been appointed, a special election would have been needed to fill her seat.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had urged Abercrombie to name Inouye’s successor before the end of the year. Schatz could be sworn in as early as this week, which would make him Hawaii’s senior senator heading into the new Congress, which begins Jan. 3.

Posted on

Hawaii Gov. Abercrombie to name Sen. Inouye successor Wednesday

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie will announce a replacement for the late Sen. Daniel Inouye’s (D) seat on Wednesday, according to a report.

CBS News reports that a Democratic source says the governor wants to appoint a successor quickly so that a new Hawaii senator can take part in possible votes over a deficit deal to avoid January’s “fiscal cliff.”

Inouye, a nine-term senator and strong LGBT ally, died last week at the age of 88. He was laid to rest on Sunday at a service in Hawaii, attended by President Obama and fellow senators.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Saturday urged Abercrombie to appoint a replacement with “due haste.”

On Wednesday, each of the applicants will speak to leaders of the state Democratic party, and the chairman will present Abercrombie a list of the party’s top three applicants. The source says Abercrombie intends to name his appointment later that day.

(source)

Posted on

Hawaii: Federal judge upholds ban on marriage equality

Unfortunately, a Federal judge ruled against plaintiffs who sued the state saying only marriage would give them equal federal benefits.

Via the Advocate: U.S. District Judge Alan Kay issued a 120-page decision that said court involvement at this point would “short-circuit” the legislative activity that has taken place against the issue. A civil unions law took effect in 2011, but the co-plaintiffs in the suit, Jackson v. Abercrombie, argued that only marriage would give them certain federal benefits.

Judge Kay said that unlike California, where Proposition 8 took away marriage rights granted by the state’s highest court, same-sex couples in Hawaii were never legally able to marry, according to the Hawaii Reporter.

“If the traditional institution of marriage is to be restructured, as sought by plaintiffs, it should be done by a democratically-elected legislature or the people through a constitutional amendment, not through judicial legislation that would inappropriately preempt democratic deliberation regarding whether or not to authorize same-sex marriage,” wrote Judge Kay.

Hawaii has long been at the forefront of the marriage equality debate in the United States. The state’s supreme court ruled in 1993 that denying same-sex couples marriage rights constituted discrimination, but in 1998, voters became the first in the nation to approve a ban on same-sex marriage.

Governor Abercrombie issued a statement after the ruling that said he would join the plaintiffs if they decide to appeal, the AP reports. The appeal would be heard in the Ninth Circuit.

“I respectfully disagree and will join the Plaintiffs if they appeal this decision. To refuse individuals the right to marry on the basis of sexual orientation or gender is discrimination in light of our civil unions law,” said Governor Abercrombie. “For me this is about fairness and equality.”

Posted on

Governor of Hawaii will not defend same-sex marriage ban

In a news release today, the Attorney General’s office of Hawaii said it has filed separate court responses for the governor and Health Department director Loretta Fuddy to a lawsuit that challenges the state constitutional ban of same-sex marriages.

A new law passed last year permits same-sex couples to enter into state-sanctioned “civil unions” but the constitutional ban of marriages remains.

“Under current law, a heterosexual couple can choose to enter into a marriage or a civil union. A same-sex couple, however, may only elect a civil union. My obligation as Governor is to support equality under law. This is inequality, and I will not defend it,” Abercrombie said.

Fuddy said it is her job to administer the law now on the books and that is what she must do.

“The Department of Health is charged with implementing the law as passed by the Legislature.,” said Fuddy.

“Absent any ruling to the contrary by competent judicial authority regarding constitutionality, the law will be enforced. Because I am being sued for administering the law, I will also defend it,” said Fuddy.

The lawsuit was filed in November by same-sex couple Natasha Jackson and Janin Kleid after they were denied a marriage license by the Health Department.

Another plaintiff, Gary Bradley, said that he and his partner were the first couple to enter into a civil union in Hawaii but didn’t apply for a marriage license as it would have been “futile.”

Attorney General David Louie said his office will represent both Abercrombie and Fuddy in the lawsuit, despite their divergent positions.

Posted on

Haters try last ditch effort to stop civil unions in Hawaii

U.S. District Judge Michael Seabright denied this afternoon a request by two churches for a restraining order to block a law that goes into effect Sunday permitting same-sex couples to enter civil unions.

Joshua Wisch, spokesman for the attorney general’s office, said as a result of the ruling, the civil unions law will “go into effect as planned on Jan. 1, 2012.”

The Emmanuel Temple and the Lighthouse Outreach Center Assembly of God asked for the order.

They argued that although they will be exempt from performing same-sex civil unions, they would face civil penalties and fines if they refused to rent their property for same-sex civil unions.

In a 17-page opinion, Seabright ruled that the churches have not shown they are entitled to the restraining order.