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HAWAII GOVERNOR’S VETO OF CIVIL UNIONS BILL ‘A DISGRACE’
WASHINGTON, July 6 - Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle today vetoed a bill that would have granted same-sex and opposite-sex couples the right to enter into civil unions. The legislation passed the state House on April 29 by a 31–20 vote and the state Senate on Jan. 22 by an 18–7 vote.
Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
"Governor Lingle's veto of legislation that would protect and strengthen Hawaii's families is beyond a disappointment: It is a disgrace. Hawaii's lawmakers passed this bill because it was about fundamental fairness. The governor's action today flies in the face of both common sense and common humanity. We urge the Hawaii Legislature to override this veto."
To learn more about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, visit www.theTaskForce.org
and follow us on Twitter: @TheTaskForce.
Full Story. [7/7/10]
PEOPLE OF HAWAII OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT EQUAL RIGHTS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES
Honolulu – Today, a coalition of leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations in Hawaii announced poll results indicating a wide majority of the people of Hawaii support equal rights for same-sex couples. The poll was commissioned by Equality Hawaii and conducted by QMark Research. Coalition representatives also delivered more than 8000 postcards, petitions and letters addressed to Governor Lingle to corroborate the findings of the poll.
"Today we deliver news to the Governor that the people of Hawaii overwhelmingly support treating same-sex couples equally under the law. This poll and the subsequent constituent contacts delivered to the Governor today, confirm what we've known for a long time – that Hawaii is a place for tolerance and equality. The time is now to stand against discrimination and to stand for treating all families in Hawaii equally. We are one Hawaii and we urge Governor Lingle to stand with the people of Hawaii in recognizing that enacting civil unions is the right thing to do."
The QMark poll shows 81% agreed that "committed couples and their families, regardless of their sexual preference or orientation, should have the same rights." The number was an increase from a 73% result obtained on the same question in a 2007 poll. Additionally, 64% agreed that "couples of the same gender should have access to the legal privileges and protections of marriage as couples of the opposite gender - as a matter of civil rights."
Coalition members include Equality Hawaii, the GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, the Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG-Oahu and Pride Alliance Hawaii. Representatives from each group delivered the poll results and constituent contacts to Governor Lingle in an effort to ensure the record is set straight in advance of the Governor's decision regarding the bill on July 6.
For detailed information on the QMark Poll including question responses and demographic breakdown, go to:
www.equalityhawaii.org/Downloads/QMark-memo.pdf
www.equalityhawaii.org/Downloads/QMark-table.pdf > Full Story. [7/2/10]
HAWAII GOV TELLS LEGISLATURE SHE MAY VETO CIVIL UNIONS
Gov. Linda Lingle has informed the Hawaii state legislature that she may veto a sweeping civil unions bill that would give same-sex couples the rights and responsibilities of marriage, according to KITV. > Full Story. [6/21/10]
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