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Written by Lisa Neff, Staff writer
Jun 30, 2010
Former First Lady Laura Bush, who supports same-sex marriage, and Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, who has put a civil unions bill passed by her state's legislature on a veto list. – Photo: Courtesy
“Aloha” has come to mean “hello” and “goodbye.”
Hawaiians don’t yet know how Gov. Linda Lingle will address legislation that would establish civil unions in the Aloha State.
Lingle, last week, placed the civil unions legislation on a list of bills she might veto.
“While the Legislature each year passes legislation it believes is important, it is my duty as governor to ensure the bills that become law are constitutional, fiscally responsible and in the state’s and the public’s long-term best interest,” Lingle said in a statement accompanying a list of 39 bills that might be vetoed.
Lingle has until July 6 to decide whether to sign the legislation, allow it to become law without her signature or veto the bill.
The measure has been on the Republican governor’s desk since May 3. The Hawaii House approved the measure several days before.
The legislation would allow both opposite-gender and same-gender couples to enter into civil unions that the government would recognize.
Earlier this summer, Lingle met with opponents and proponents of the legislation.
During a June 1 press conference, she said, “I don’t want whatever decision I make to in any way diminish one side or the other, or make one side or the other feel I’m being judgmental in any way.”
LGBT civil rights advocates said they welcomed Lingle’s thoughtful approach, but that the time to act had arrived.
“Dragging this issue out any longer is of benefit to no one, including the thousands of Hawaii families who would receive equal treatment under the law if civil unions are approved,” said Alan Spector of Equality Hawaii, a statewide LGBT group. “We urge the governor to do what’s in the best interest of these families and the state of Hawaii, which is to make this bill the law in Hawaii.”
Hawaii, like Wisconsin, provides some domestic partnership recognition, but the statute falls far short of what many gay and lesbian couples were expecting from their state government 17 years ago. At that time, Hawaii was poised to become the first state in the country to legalize gay marriage.
The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled in December 1993 that denying marriage licenses to gays and lesbians is discriminatory and same-sex marriages must be allowed unless the state provided a compelling reason to allow the discriminatory practice to continue.
That ruling fueled expectations that gays would soon begin marrying in Hawaii, but the ruling also fueled a nationwide campaign to enact constitutional amendments defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman and barring recognition of same-sex marriages.
A series of legal disputes followed, and, while the state supreme court reviewed an appeal in the marriage case, the legislature approved an anti-gay amendment to the constitution, which was ratified by a vote of the people.
In 1998, Hawaii became the last state in the country expected to legalize gay marriage.
Earlier this year, the prospect of passing a civil unions bill also seemed slim.
But since May, gay rights advocates have amassed widespread support, including from Hawaii’s business and religious communities.
“We trust that she will listen to this ever-growing chorus of support,” Jennifer Pizer of Lambda Legal said of Lingle’s review.
If the governor vetoes the bill, marriage advocates likely will go to court.
