Members of Equality Hawaii and the Human Rights Campaign gathered to congratulate Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie for Hawaii’s decision last week to enact civil unions into law. The new law will take effect on January 1, 2012, and will make Hawaii the 15th US jurisdiction to provide equal rights under law to same-sex couples.
Alan Spector, co-chair of prominent local LGBT civil rights organization Equality Hawaii, stated, “Today is a truly momentous day in Hawaii and a great step forward in our struggle towards full equality.”
Equality Hawaii and the Human Rights Campaign have worked towards equal rights for Hawaiian same-sex couples since 1993, when the Hawaiian Supreme Court ruled in favor of the constitutional right to same-sex marriage in the landmark case of Baehr v. Lewin. This victory for same-sex couples was overturned in 1998, when the legislature enacted a law defining marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman. With the passage of time, however, local attitudes towards same-sex unions and the definition of marriage have changed. The recent decision to legalize civil unions reflects widespread support for marriage equality throughout the state of Hawaii.
“For too long, Hawaii’s same-sex families have languished as second-class citizens, denied equal civil rights and treatment under the law,” said House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro. “Today, we bring the concepts of ohana and aloha back to the people of this great state. I thank Gov. Abercrombie, my colleagues in the legislature, Equality Hawaii and the Human Rights Campaign for their dedication to this cause and look forward to working with all advocates for equality in the future.”
Equality Hawaii and the Human Rights Campaign recognized Oshiro and other House and Senate members for their leadership in making Hawaii’s new law a reality. The also thanked the ACLU of Hawaii, Da Moms, GLBT Caucus of the Hawaii Democratic Party, Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii, Lambda Legal, PFLAG-Oahu, Pride Alliance Hawaii, Pride at Work and UNITE HERE Local 5 for their contributions and efforts to the fight for LGBT equality.
HRC and Equality Hawaii are committed to advancing rights and protections for the LGBT community. Learn more about the status of same-sex marriage throughout the US by visiting www.HRC.org/State_Laws.
