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02/06/2009
HI civil unions. Nice to see ya.
Yesterday in Hawaii, the state House Judiciary Committee unanimously (12-0, including two Republicans) approved House Bill 444, which would allow same-sex couples to enter into a civil unions system with the same set of rights as their married 'rosexual peers:
House committee advances bill to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples [Honolulu Advertiser]
So what now? Well, the bill heads to the full House, where it's expected to pass, before moving on to a Senate committee, where its future is less certain (but promising). After that it would then go on to the full Senate, and if the bill passes there (it's expected to) it would finally land on Gov. Lingle's desk (sources tell me she prob. won't sign it; but if she doesn't veto it, then it'll just become law without her signature).
So in very short order, our 50th state might become our fifth state with a civil unions system. And the only one where a cocktail in a pineapple is a reasonable request. That's what progress looks like, kiddos.
(H/t: Marriage Equality USA)
**Note on civil unions: California's domestic partnership system is pretty much equal to the other states' civil unions system. Though techincally they are DP's, thus the reason why we didn't include them as one of the states.
Also, Connecticut now has state-level marriage equality, bumping up their previous civil unions system. However, this has not done away with the previously in-place civil unions. So we currently have four states (NJ, NH, CT, and VT) with a civil unions system.
Your thoughts
Hawaiian activists, starving for any kind of victory, are now taking this compromise. In fact, though they presented a marriage bill, they also presented this compromise civil unions bill. With public opinion trending toward marriage equality, opponents of same-sex marriage, including former LDS HFT leader Deb Hartmann, are throwing their support behind civil unions. A civil unions victory in Hawaii is really a defeat. Hawaiians are snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory.
Don't do it! Don't accept this ridiculous compromise.
Posted by: notsosure | Feb 6, 2009 4:08:46 PM
