LGBT News Hawaii governor calls special session to consider marriage equality bill

Ammo for the "Gays are demanding special rights" argument, but still.

Why can't Hawaii be like.. the one nation everyone lives in? I think Hawaii should take over the world, so that we can all live in paradise.

 

It's unbelievable that this has been debated there for *20 years*. They need to make up their minds already. I'll be curious to see, since there's a religious exemption, if churches and repubs still try to oppose this.

 

Not sure if you meant to put nation, but Hawaii is a state in the US. I'm all for people leading by some examples. In my sociology class only two people out of thirty were against gay marriage. Everyone I know that lives here doesn't have a problem with it. Everything is chill here and they realize that gay marriage has no effect on their life.

Churches just want to be exempt from this bill (understandable). Hawaii's LBGT population is supposedly the highest in the US at 10%. I've heard Abercrombie on the news several times now saying that the bill has church exemptions.

The thing is that Hawaii has never had a governor that has served less than 8 years (first three served 12 years). The current governor is the 7th. The previous governor was a republican who was completely against any gay rights and she was governor from 2002-2008. Sure it could have been done with the governor before her but that would've made Hawaii the first state to allow gay marriage.

Most people here are nice caring people that are happy and chill. It's a very liberal state. I know so many people that are LGBT and can't wait for this to be made legal (!). I have faith that this will be legalized due to public support and a large house and senate support.

 

According to my friend from Aiea, HI who now attends UConn, Republicans are screaming about how "the voters already said no!" It's true Hawaii was one of the first states to pass a constitutional amendment regarding gay marriage, back in 1998. It states,

"The Legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples."

Sorry guys, but the Legislature can choose not to exercise its power at any time.

 

I knew about that already but it's the dumbest amendment because does that mean that gay marriage can change every 8 years? Republicans are dumb in that aspect because they should be saying "the voters are saying yes" when you look at the #'s.

 

They should know that political views can change after 15 years.

 

You mean political views evolve? gasp!

 

Hawaii is the most Democratic state in the nation. There are 8 Republicans in the state Legislature, and there's only 1 in the State Senate. It's safe to say that it won't change in 8 years.

 

glad to hear things are moving forward

 

I'm optimistic this will go through.

New Mexico and New Jersey are on the verge of becoming official, with HI, that will make 16 states, plus the District.

(for some reason, people in Maryland tend to call DC 'The District')

 

Hopefully Illinois as well.

 

Prediction: New Jersey, Hawaii, New Mexico, Illinois, & Oregon all to legalize by the end of 2014.

 

New Mexico and New Jersey will be legal by the end of 2013.

 

and Hawaii but I was just saying 2014 to be on the safe side.

 

I'm happy for you, Geek. And I'm happy for William, my friend who's also from Hawaii.

 

I agree 100% Maybe even Michigan or Pennsylvania the way things are going.

 

^^^^ Map in 2014. I noticed none of the south is on that list. East Coast and West Coast need to bond together to change those crazy redneck christian conservatives minds (no offense)

 

I for one am not excited about this. If they had drafted a bill that ended discrimination against unmarried couples it would be worth cheering for.

 

Thousands of people will finally be legally allowed to get married, how is that not worth cheering for?