“This was a sad surrender to political expediency that does not support
business and family interests.”
(Honolulu, July 6, 2010) – Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties
Union of Hawai’i (ACLU) reacted today with deep disappointment following
Hawai’i Governor Linda Lingle’s veto of HB 444, which would have allowed
gay and straight Hawai’i couples to take legal responsibility for each
other by entering civil unions. Having received strong majority votes by
both houses of the Hawai’i Legislature, the bill was given final approval
on April 29, the last day of the session. Lingle had until July 6 to take
action on the bill.
“This was a sad surrender to political expediency that does not support
business or family interests, but damages them,” said Jennifer C. Pizer,
National Marriage Project Director for Lambda Legal. “In caving in to a
well-orchestrated disinformation campaign mounted by the bill’s opponents,
Governor Lingle has abandoned thousands of Hawai’i families who have
needed this bill’s protections for many years. We’re also disappointed
that the Legislature opted to not override this veto immediately — we
would have preferred to see couples win fair treatment through the
political branch rather than having to pursue legal action. However, we’re
still ready to do what’s necessary so our clients can protect their loved
ones.”
Lambda Legal and the ACLU had readied a lawsuit after the House tabled HB
444 in January. The Hawai’i Senate had previously approved the bill by a
veto-proof 18 to 7 majority and sent it back to the House for a conforming
vote.
“We’re obviously disappointed that Governor Lingle has, once again, used
her power to deny the people of Hawai’i their civil rights” said Laurie
Temple, Staff Attorney for the ACLU. “Luckily for the people of Hawai’i,
however, our constitution prevents discrimination based on sexual
orientation. If the Governor won’t honor her oath to uphold the
constitution, the courts will.”
Hawai’i's constitution was amended in 1998 to allow the Legislature to
restrict marriage to heterosexual couples, which it has done. This means
same-sex couples cannot sue for full equality through marriage. Although
civil unions are a lesser status than marriage, they would provide a full
range of state law protections and duties to gay and lesbian couples, such
as access to family court to dissolve the legal status in an orderly way,
clear duties to pay child support and alimony as spouses must, and other
vital protections. Bills to offer civil unions have been under steady
consideration in the Hawai’i Legislature each year since 2001.
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Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full
recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals,
transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education
and public policy work.
The mission of the ACLU and its Hawai’i affiliate is to protect the
fundamental freedoms contained in the state and federal constitutions
through litigation, legislative and public education programs statewide.
By Rex Wockner
