Connect
Get Local
Issues
Tag Cloud
Archives
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
Subscribe
Decision Day Epilogue: Statement on the Hawaii Civil Union Bill Veto
Decision Day Epilogue: Statement on the Hawaii Civil Union Bill Veto
Last night, Republican Governor Linda Lingle broke a promise and dismissed the will of Hawaiian citizens as she vetoed HB 444, which would have allowed both same-sex and heterosexual couples to enter into civil unions with all the rights enjoyed by married couples.
Michael Sargeant, Executive Director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, issued the following statement in response to Governor Lingle’s veto of the civil union bill:
“We at the DLCC are disappointed in Governor Lingle for ignoring the will of Hawaiian citizens as expressed by the Hawaii legislature’s passage of this landmark legislation. Governor Lingle also broke her campaign promise not to veto a civil union bill if passed by the state legislature. She has denied Hawaii the opportunity to become the latest example of states leading the way on equality.”
Vetoing the legislation broke a promise Lingle made in her first campaign for governor in 2002.
It was during a live debate broadcast on PBS Hawaii that Lingle was asked by moderator Linda Taira about her position on the arrangements for gay couples with rights such as family and bereavement leaves, probate rights and hospital visitation.
"On the issue of domestic partnerships, I have stated that if the Legislature (should) pass legislation granting certain rights I would not veto that legislation," Lingle said [emphasis added].
Democratic legislators did their part and voted their conscience on “that legislation,” after a marathon 18 hours of earnest debate. But their work was undone by the Governor's broken promise.
And in breaking her promise, Governor Lingle denied hundreds of thousands of her own citizens a right she probably takes for granted.
The Governor’s veto is a sad setback in the ongoing fight for equality. But that fight continues.
One day, America will look back on the struggle for equal rights and wonder why it was so difficult. Governor Lingle will be one of the reasons.
I can't understand why so many people want to deny consenting adult citizens of the United States the same rights as everyone else has. It doesn't surprise me that she broke her promise. All of that dilly-dallying about thinking it over, talking to religious leaders (which is ridiculous in the first place, because of the separation of church and state) was just time-wasting so that she could veto the bill at the last minute and still look like she tried her best. Well, that backfired. She's a liar. And that's what we'll definitely remember from her. All of America. Denying consenting adult citizens the same rights as every other consenting adult citizen is un-American. We don't get to decide that just because someone's lifestyle goes against our religious beliefs or it kind of grosses us out or we think it doesn't appear often enough in nature to be called "normal" or whatever else that they don't have the same rights as everybody else. That's ridiculous. And totally un-American. Just because you don't like someone's choices doesn't mean that you get to treat them like second-class citizens. How despicable.
I'm aware that some "gay-rights activists" think a boycot is misdirected in regard to the veto of the civil union bill, but I view it very differently.
The Hawaiian people have already voted to remove the marriage possibility by amending their constitution, and they have continued to elect political leaders who are opposed to equal rights. Speaking only for myself, my husband, and some close friends, we will not vacation in Hawaii because we can get the same unequal treatment in our home states without traveling far! I have a mental list of such "uncomfortable" destinations, which otherwise would be very aluring.
The Hawaiian government is under the full control of the Hawaiian people, who elect their representatives and can create a welcoming or unwelcoming atmosphere.